Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
T-Mobile CEO rules out an MVNO deal with SpaceX
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan ruled out an MVNO deal with SpaceX during the carrier's quarterly earnings call.
An MVNO rents capacity on another carrier's network, which could give SpaceX a faster route into the US telecom market.
SpaceX has bought more spectrum and is reportedly seeking access to at least 80,000 cell sites as it develops Starlink Mobile.
Gopalan said a deal would not bring T-Mobile a new market, distribution channel or capability, and the company sees satellite service as a complement to its network.
A resale arrangement for satellite service remains possible, but Gopalan said that would be different from an MVNO partnership.
Verizon's CEO has also ruled out MVNO deals with satellite providers, so SpaceX may have to build its network independently.
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan ruled out an MVNO deal that would let SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile use T-Mobile’s network.
Gopalan said satellite service is complementary and does not meet T-Mobile’s criteria for an MVNO partnership.
He said the companies could still make commercial agreements, including a resale arrangement for a complementary product.
Gopalan described satellite broadband as an inferior option to fixed wireless access for most of T-Mobile’s home internet business.
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman also ruled out an MVNO deal with any satellite provider.
- Who
- T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan ruled out an MVNO deal with SpaceX. Verizon CEO Dan Schulman also ruled out MVNO deals with satellite providers.
- What
- T-Mobile will not let Starlink Mobile run on its network through an MVNO agreement.
- When
- Gopalan made the comments during T-Mobile’s Q3 earnings call, held the day before the article was published.
- Where
- The comments were made during T-Mobile’s Q3 earnings call. The article concerns the US telecom market.
- Why
- T-Mobile sees satellite service as complementary and said an MVNO deal would not bring a new market, distribution channel or capability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
SpaceX bought more spectrum to develop Starlink Mobile into a full-fledged carrier.
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman ruled out an MVNO deal with any satellite provider during the company’s earnings call.
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan ruled out an MVNO deal with SpaceX during T-Mobile’s Q3 earnings call.
- T-Mobile CEO
- Srini Gopalan
- SpaceX service
- Starlink Mobile
- MVNO position
- T-Mobile ruled out an MVNO deal with SpaceX
- SpaceX spectrum
- SpaceX bought more spectrum earlier that month
- Satellite product
- T-Mobile already handles satellite through T-Satellite
What people are saying
I see no room for an MVNO with SpaceX either on the consumer side or on the physical and edge AI side
very happy to look at a resale arrangement
an inferior version of FWA