SpaceX’s mobile carrier push reportedly involves tapping into 80,000 cell sites

SpaceX is reportedly in discussions with Crown Castle Inc., one of the largest cell tower owners in the United States, according to Bloomberg. The aim of these talks is for SpaceX to tap into approximately 80,000 cell sites as part of its strategy to compete directly with mobile network giants Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Sources close to the report indicate that Crown Castle is among the entities SpaceX has been discussing potential partnerships with, as the company seeks to expand its reach and capabilities.

If successful, this collaboration could grant SpaceX access to half of the 158,500 cell towers currently operational across the U.S., as reported by Reuters. During a recent earnings call, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant affirmed that the company is indeed engaging with various parties, including SpaceX, though specific customer details were not disclosed.

SpaceX's strategy involves integrating its network of cell towers with a fleet of direct-to-cell satellites. Earlier this month, the company bolstered its spectrum portfolio by acquiring low-band licenses and secured FCC approval for deploying 15,000 upgraded V2 Starlink Mobile satellites, signaling its commitment to making Starlink Mobile a significant player in the U.S. market.

In addition to these moves, SpaceX acquired 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion last year, further strengthening its position.