Elon Musk Wants Starlink To Take On T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T—Here's Why That's Easier Said Than Done
Key takeaways
- Starlink's entry into the mobile market poses a significant threat to existing carriers, but the company's plans to use rooftop base stations and increase its satellite capacity could deliver better and higher…
- Starlink plans to begin service at the end of 2027
- The company expects to acquire 'quite a few' customers from AT&T
- The acquisition of $19.6 billion worth of EchoStar spectrum
What happened
SpaceX's Starlink Mobile plans to begin service at the end of 2027, with President Gwynne Shotwell expecting to acquire 'quite a few' customers from AT&T. Shotwell stated that the company intends to build out the terrestrial component, using rooftop base stations instead of large tower sites. SpaceX has acquired $19.6 billion worth of EchoStar spectrum, including terrestrial rights, from the FCC.
Why it matters
Starlink's entry into the mobile market poses a significant threat to existing carriers, including T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. The company's plans to use rooftop base stations and increase its satellite capacity could deliver better and higher bandwidth than existing carriers. However, T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan is…
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. Over the next day or two, watch the offer terms for Elon Musk Wants, and whether a regulator has to sign off.
Longer-term. The acquisition of $19.6 billion worth of EchoStar spectrum is a significant investment for SpaceX.