AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have been hustling for leadership in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity for their customers since 2022. The competition has heated up in recent months, as operators and satellite companies contend to be the first live in the sky. All the excitement aside, initial offerings will only guarantee text-based communications in the US. All three operators are chasing direct-to-smartphone connections with LEO satellite companies. It is not quite a head-to-head between the US providers, since AT&T and Verizon have decided to back the same horse, that is satellite start up AST SpaceMobile. T-Mobile, meanwhile, teamed up with SpaceX on its Starlink service in 2022 and has an exclusive one year contract with the provider. In addition, AST SpaceMobile does not…