Starlink Could Buy This Company to Become Full-Fledged Telco

Elon Musk’s SpaceX may be eyeing a purchase of Boost Mobile in an effort to create a fully-fledged mobile network in the United States. According to a report by The Washington Post, SpaceX has been in discussions with EchoStar, the parent company of Boost Mobile, about a potential acquisition or partnership. A deal could enable SpaceX to gain access to Boost Mobile’s existing mobile network, allowing Starlink Mobile to provide more comprehensive coverage across the country.

However, SpaceX has yet to confirm whether or not a deal will be reached. Building a complete nationwide mobile service could take anywhere from four to six years, according to former Verizon CEO. SpaceX aims to complete the process more quickly, potentially in half that time. To achieve this, the company is investing heavily in wireless spectrum and negotiating access to thousands of cellular tower sites.

SpaceX currently offers satellite internet through Starlink and is expanding its satellite-to-phone services, but satellite connections can be limited, especially indoors and in urban areas. By acquiring Boost Mobile, SpaceX hopes to combine satellite and traditional cellular coverage for a unified mobile service. Despite reaching out to the three largest US mobile operators, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, SpaceX's requests have been denied.

Purchasing Boost Mobile would require approval from AT&T and T-Mobile, which could pose additional challenges.