SpaceX just announced plans to make Starlink a 'major' US mobile carrier

SpaceX has announced ambitious plans to transform Starlink into a major US mobile carrier, potentially challenging the dominance of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Currently, Starlink Mobile operates in partnership with local carriers, offering limited satellite data access on satellite-ready phones. However, SpaceX aims to integrate satellite and terrestrial mobile infrastructure to become a leading US carrier.

A significant aspect of this strategy is the acquisition of licenses to low-band mobile spectrum, specifically up to 14 MHz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band. This spectrum will work alongside the 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum already acquired from EchoStar last year. SpaceX emphasizes that mid-band spectrum will handle high-bandwidth capacity, while the newly acquired spectrum will create a new coverage layer, enabling Starlink signals to penetrate walls and maintain connectivity even in outdoor settings.

Important to note is that SpaceX is still awaiting final approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Nevertheless, the FCC had previously greenlighted plans for deploying 15,000 V2 Starlink Mobile satellites, which SpaceX claims would offer 100 times more bandwidth than current-generation satellites. These V2 satellites are a crucial component of SpaceX's plans, and their combination with the new spectrum will ensure reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones, and beyond.

Although SpaceX's expansion may not happen rapidly, the acquisition of ground-based infrastructure and spectrum signifies a serious commitment to enhancing Starlink's mobile coverage. As a result, the company aims to position itself as a major player in the mobile industry, potentially making Starlink the primary source of cell data for users, regardless of their location.