SpaceX says it’s coming for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile customers

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell expects the company's Starlink Mobile service to attract customers away from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile as it upgrades its cellular coverage. Starlink Mobile currently serves as a satellite safety net for phone carriers, providing coverage in dead zones and during network outages. The company plans to launch next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027, offering a significantly improved service that could be "100 times better" than its current offering.

This upgrade will utilize 65 megahertz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar. After the launch, Starlink Mobile aims to become a full-fledged wireless carrier, competing directly with the Big Three wireless carriers. Shotwell highlighted the potential for SpaceX to acquire a significant number of customers from these providers due to the superior service provided by Starlink Mobile.

Currently, T-Mobile partners with SpaceX for satellite-to-cellular connectivity through a service called T-Satellite, though it is not a comprehensive replacement for standard 4G or 5G plans. SpaceX also plans to build a terrestrial network using smaller, lower-cost cellular base stations with Starlink dishes, aiming to provide higher bandwidth and better connectivity than what is currently available from cellular providers.