Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile reportedly said no when Elon Musk asked to run his mobile service on their networks. Now SpaceX is trying to build its own. The FCC has accepted SpaceX’s application to buy a big chunk of 800 MHz spectrum, and the company says most phones already support it. Here’s what’s happening and what it could mean for you.
In Short
- On November 10, the FCC accepted SpaceX’s application to buy Grain Management’s 800 MHz licenses for review.
- The deal is reportedly worth about $8 billion and is not approved yet.
- SpaceX says Starlink Mobile will mix satellites with cell towers, on a band most phones already support.
What the FCC Just Did
According to the FCC’s public notice, Starlink Spectrum Holdings has applied to take over 800 MHz licenses held by Grain Management. Accepting the filing doesn’t mean the FCC has signed off. It opens a public review, with comments due December 1 and oppositions due December 8.
The deal could give SpaceX up to 14 MHz of paired low-band spectrum, the kind that travels far and gets through walls. In a twist, Grain bought that spectrum from T-Mobile in August.
More on This Topic: AST SpaceMobile Satellite Service: AT&T, Verizon by 2027
Why the Big Three Are Pushing Back
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile reportedly turned down Musk’s earlier requests to let his mobile service use their networks. Through their trade group, CTIA, the carriers told the FCC that a wider spectrum buildout could “have real consequences for consumers.” A T-Mobile spokesperson described satellite technology as “complementary to terrestrial networks.”
The carriers aren’t standing still either. In October, the three of them announced a joint satellite partnership to reach underserved areas.
What SpaceX Wants to Build
SpaceX says Starlink Mobile will combine its satellite-to-mobile constellation with ground-based cell sites, and the FCC’s announcement mentions coverage reaching “approximately 100% of the U.S. population.” The company has also teamed up with Qualcomm on network infrastructure. This isn’t its first big move: SpaceX paid $17 billion for EchoStar’s spectrum, a deal the FCC approved in May.
More on This Topic: T-Mobile Raised Its Line Fee Again, and It’s Now $5.49 a Month on Newer Plans
What It Means for Your Phone
Nothing changes today. There’s no Starlink Mobile plan to sign up for, no price and no launch date. But one detail stands out: SpaceX says “most existing mobile devices already support this underused band.” If that holds, switching to a Starlink phone plan one day might not require a new phone.
For now, your Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile service works exactly as before. The real test comes after the FCC’s comment period in December.
The Limit
The FCC hasn’t approved the deal, and opponents can still file objections. The $8 billion figure comes from press reports, not from SpaceX or Grain. And analysts remain cautious: Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson says SpaceX is “still far from having the assets” it needs to compete with the Big Three. Building a nationwide ground network takes years.
Your next phone carrier could one day come from space, but don’t cancel your plan just yet!
