T-Mobile chairman says Starlink Mobile needs $200 billion to compete
Starlink Mobile will need to invest a minimum of $200 billion in spectrum, towers, and antennas, according to a major telecoms exec.
T-Mobile's chairman, Tim Höttges, has stated that a staggering $200 billion investment is necessary for Starlink Mobile to compete with the major carriers. Despite this, Höttges is taking the project seriously, drawing parallels to Elon Musk's success in the car industry. SpaceX has made significant strides towards making Starlink Mobile a contender, including purchasing 76 megahertz of spectrum and partnering with Qualcomm.
However, Höttges outlines the immense costs involved, including purchasing additional spectrum and building a nationwide network of 85,000 towers, which could add another $20-$30 billion. While Starlink Mobile may lack the experience of established carriers, Höttges remains optimistic, stating, "welcome to the party." Experts agree that becoming the fourth major mobile network in the US will be a significant challenge, with numerous hurdles such as building radios, launching satellites, and creating an effective retail strategy.
However, a recent agreement with Qualcomm could be a crucial step towards making Starlink Mobile a credible fourth nationwide mobile network provider in the US.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
