Science & Tech · Space · 1 day ago
SpaceX Agrees to Buy Spectrum for Starlink Mobile Network
SpaceX has agreed to buy nationwide 800 MHz spectrum from investment firm Grain Management for an estimated $8 billion.
The company wants to use these low-band airwaves to expand Starlink Mobile, its planned US phone service.
Low-band signals can travel through obstacles such as walls and foliage, which could help phones connect where satellite signals are weak indoors.
The deal is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission, which has not set a decision timeline.
This week, the FCC also approved SpaceX’s plan to launch 15,000 satellites for direct connections to ordinary phones.
SpaceX says it plans to speed up deployment of the new system next year.
Experts and a T-Mobile executive have questioned whether satellite service can match the coverage of major carriers, which rely on thousands of ground-based towers.
SpaceX has agreed to acquire Grain Management’s nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio for an estimated $8 billion.
The company plans to use the low-band airwaves to expand Starlink Mobile into a US cellular network with improved coverage indoors and in difficult terrain.
The deal would provide up to 14 megahertz of paired airwaves for two-way data transmission between satellites and mobile devices.
The acquisition requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which has not set a decision timeline.
An industry analyst and T-Mobile’s chief financial officer have questioned whether satellite service can compete with established carriers.
- Who
- SpaceX has agreed to buy the spectrum portfolio from investment firm Grain Management.
- What
- The acquisition is intended to support Starlink Mobile’s cellular network.
- When
- SpaceX announced the agreement on Thursday; the article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The spectrum portfolio covers the United States.
- Why
- SpaceX says low-band airwaves can improve signal propagation and help provide phone coverage, including indoors.
SpaceX
Tim Farrar and T-Mobile CFO Peter Osvaldik
Coverage potential
SpaceX
SpaceX says the spectrum is a critical piece for providing complete phone coverage in America.
Tim Farrar and T-Mobile CFO Peter Osvaldik
Farrar said the spectrum is limited and reliable building penetration in urban areas would require ground towers.
Competitiveness
SpaceX
SpaceX plans to use the spectrum alongside satellites to expand Starlink Mobile.
Tim Farrar and T-Mobile CFO Peter Osvaldik
Osvaldik said satellite-to-cell service is not a competitive threat to traditional wireless coverage.
This is the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America
It’s still a very limited amount of spectrum, and to get reliable building penetration in urban areas, SpaceX would have to deploy towers on the ground.
It’s not a competitive threat
You can have a million satellites up there with all the spectrum in the world, you can’t break the fundamental laws of physics.
T-Mobile CFO Peter Osvaldik said Starlink’s satellite-to-cell service was not a competitive threat.
SpaceX announced that it had agreed to acquire Grain Management’s nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio.
The FCC approved SpaceX’s plan to launch 15,000 satellites.
- Estimated deal value
- $8 billion
- Spectrum band
- 800 MHz low-band
- Spectrum amount
- Up to 14 megahertz of paired airwaves
- FCC satellite approval
- 15,000 satellites
- Planned deployment
- SpaceX plans to accelerate deployment of the new system next year
Sources
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