$SPCX has agreed to acquire Grain Management’s nationwide portfolio of 800 MHz low-band spectrum licenses, a move the company says will pave the way for Starlink to become a major mobile carrier in the U.S.
Elon Musk called it “the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America.”
The plan is to combine satellites with a ground-based mobile network. The low-band airwaves would complement Starlink’s 2 GHz spectrum, helping improve indoor coverage and extend service into areas with weak or nonexistent cellular reception. That would put Starlink in more direct competition with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
Separately, the FCC approved a new constellation of 15,000 SpaceX satellites this week for direct-to-device mobile services, another step toward expanding Starlink’s ability to connect directly to phones.
The spectrum acquisition still requires FCC approval and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
SpaceX takes aim at US wireless carriers with spectrum acquisition
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Posted by Optimal_Image5192
4 Comments
It’s an interesting move for SpaceX to compete directly with the major cell carriers – I had assumed they would try to license out their DTC to the existing networks rather than set up their own. My thought is this means the cell carriers will be eager to find a way to emulate the DTC satellite capabilities in their own, which is probably very good for ASTS.
ASTS +100% within a month (after a 10% drop) last time SpaceX acquired spectrum (9/8/25)
My cope
Great move by the company
Guys, he will be eavesdropping our daily phone conversations soon. Complete military and civilian control.