SpaceX says Starlink Mobile is moving toward major U.S. carrier status

SpaceX says the spectrum buy and planned satellite buildout could let Starlink Mobile compete more directly with the biggest U.S. networks, if regulators approve it.

SpaceX says its purchase of low-band spectrum licenses will let Starlink Mobile move toward becoming a major U.S. carrier once the FCC approves the deal. The company says the new 800 MHz holdings, paired with its satellite system and a terrestrial mobile network, are meant to challenge T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. SpaceX says the licenses include up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum and should improve indoor coverage by helping signals pass through walls and buildings. It also says the FCC has approved plans for 15,000 V2 Starlink Mobile satellites, which SpaceX claims will deliver more than 100 times the bandwidth of the current generation. SpaceX previously bought 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar as part of its direct-to-device push.