Ma Bell partners with Rivian once again. | Image by PhoneArena
We all love monster trucks, muscle cars and lowriders, but EVs (electric vehicles) are here to stay – and they're getting smarter by the day.
EVs are like computers on wheels and AT&T is announcing a collaboration with Rivian for their R2 model that should make owners happy.
Boosted 5G connectivity
Here's the Rivian R2's modern looks. | Image by AT&T
The Rivian R2 lineup consists of several variants. The earliest should hit the market in "spring 2026", per the maker's site information.
The idea is simple. AT&T's expertise would fit naturally into the R2's 5G connectivity systems. This is promised to deliver faster and more reliable access to the EV's digital features. This isn't just for the drivers, but passengers would benefit, too.
There'll be seamless over-the-air software updates, enhanced infotainment and numerous real-time services. Performance boost and personalization over time: that should be the result.
Recommended For You
In other words, your car could evolve over time thanks to AT&T's presence in the mix.
Driving down the highway, which telco has the best network?
It's all about software
While many of us still drive (and swear by) cars that are 99% hardware and 1% software, EVs are a different breed and it makes sense for AT&T to collaborate with Rivian.
Much like smartphones and tablets, EVs are software-defined. A single software update can change how the battery manages power, tweak the suspension, or add brand-new autonomous driving features. These files are massive (often gigabytes).
AT&T's 5G should allow the car to download them seamlessly in the background without needing to be parked next to your home Wi-Fi.
Not for the first time
This isn't the first time that AT&T has collaborated with Rivian. Their partnership started in 2023, when AT&T became the network operator for Rivian vehicles in the US and Canada.
Connectivity is increasingly central to how vehicles are designed, delivered, and improved. Our ongoing relationship with Rivian is built around that shift, and with 5G in the R2, we’re helping create a platform for continuous innovation across the vehicle lifecycle.
– Matt Harden, vice president, Connected Solutions, AT&T, June 2026
According to Rivian's Tom Solomon, their vehicles don't stop evolving once they leave the factory line. By equipping the R2 with AT&T 5G, Rivian is giving owners a highly connected ride that handles everything from streaming and navigation to answering complex questions with an AI assistant. Plus, the vehicle will just keep getting better over time through regular software updates.
But my phone has 5G…
While it is tempting to assume that your phone's 5G hotspot can handle your car's connectivity needs, a built-in 5G system is fundamentally different. It integrates directly into the core operations.
Tethering a phone confines data access strictly to the infotainment screen, leaving the device blind to the vehicle's exterior sensors and unable to perform deep-system tasks like updating brakes or optimizing the battery.
Furthermore, built-in 5G utilizes massive, high-gain antennas embedded in the car's roof that pull in signals in deep rural areas where your Galaxy or iPhone (hidden behind the car's metal and glass) frequently drops connection.
Also, the built-in 5G system draws power directly from the vehicle's battery, not from your phone.
Get Visible as low as $20/mo for 1 year. Limited time offer with code: FRESHSTART
$20
/mo
$25
$5 off (20%)
Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.
Sebastian is one of PhoneArena’s senior opinionators. A veteran news writer with almost 20 years of experience in media and technology, he not only covers all the hot news about Galaxies and iPhones, but often provides hot takes on industry trends. He’s fascinated with camera-focused flagships from the likes of Oppo and Vivo, as well as foldable phones.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: