SpaceX announces plan to become a ‘major mobile carrier’

<figure> <img alt="Photo of rocket launch with SpaceX logo." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/STKB355_SPACEX_C.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">SpaceX has acquired a portfolio of low-band spectrum licenses - a move the company says "will pave the way" for its Starlink Mobile service to become a "major" US carrier. When the Federal Communications Commission signs off on the deal, <a href="https://www.spacex.com/updates#starlink-mobile-spectrum">SpaceX says it will</a> deploy its new architecture that combines its satellite-to-mobile constellation with a terrestrial mobile network, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/science/975480/spacex-mobile-terrestrial-cellphone-company">directly competing</a> with T-Mobile, AT&amp;T, and Verizon.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The licenses include up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band, which SpaceX says will allow Starlink Mobile's signal to penetrate through walls and buildings. SpaceX <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/773645/echostar-dish-spacex-starlink-direct-to-cell-fcc-investigation">previously acquired 2GHz spectrum from …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/science/1008467/spacex-announces-plan-to-become-a-major-mobile-carrier">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>