T-Mobile CEO calls Starlink's satellite technology 'inferior'
SpaceX will have to go it alone with Starlink Mobile, as the big three carriers have all turned down the idea of making it an MVNO.
T-Mobile's CEO, Srini Gopalan, has publicly dismissed Starlink's satellite technology, suggesting it is inferior to the company's existing Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions. Gopalan made these remarks during a recent earnings call, stating that satellite connectivity presents more limitations, particularly in terms of beam size.
The CEO further revealed that two-thirds of T-Mobile's FWA customers reside in densely populated urban areas, indicating continued growth potential in these regions. However, Gopalan believes there are no significant synergies with satellite providers.
Verizon and AT&T have also declined SpaceX's proposal to collaborate on a satellite-based mobile network, known as Starlink Mobile. As a result, SpaceX will likely need to rely primarily on its satellite constellation to develop the network. Despite its ambitious plans, which include launching 15,000 new satellites, securing lease agreements for 80,000 cell tower sites, and potentially installing cellular base stations on existing Starlink dishes, SpaceX faces a long road to creating a viable mobile network and posing a challenge to the "big three" carriers.
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