SpaceX reportedly wants to buy Boost Mobile to compete with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
SpaceX has been looking for new ways to use its Starlink network, and a tie-up with cellular operator Boost Mobile could give it the terrestrial access it needs.
SpaceX may be eyeing a purchase of Boost Mobile, according to a report by The Washington Post. The acquisition could bolster SpaceX's efforts to create a hybrid cellular-satellite network that could position the company as the fourth-largest wireless provider in the United States. SpaceX has been exploring cellular connectivity, introducing satellite service to T-Mobile users in 2024.
Last year, the company acquired wireless spectrum worth $17 billion from EchoStar, which could enhance its Starlink service by penetrating indoor spaces.
Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, reportedly had a direct conversation with EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen in October about the potential acquisition of Boost Mobile. EchoStar currently boasts around 7.5 million subscribers, distributed across Boost Mobile and GenMobile, its other mobile service. Musk has also discussed buying network capacity from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, but all three providers have declined his offers.
Boost Mobile does not own its own towers; instead, it leases capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile, which might need to approve any potential deal. Experts speaking to The Washington Post stated that network leases are typically nontransferable. While the acquisition would provide SpaceX with an immediate boost in subscribers, the real value would lie in obtaining access to terrestrial cellular networks.
This access would significantly expand coverage, as Boost Mobile currently serves most of the 48 contiguous states in the U.S., allowing Starlink to operate effectively both indoors and outdoors.
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