SpaceX Buys Low-Band Spectrum, Plans to Become a Major US Mobile Carrier
US space and satellite company SpaceX has acquired low-band spectrum licenses to turn its Starlink Mobile service into a major US carrier. The deal still needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
SpaceX, the American space technology company behind the Starlink satellite internet service, has announced that it acquired a portfolio of low-band spectrum licenses. The company says the move "will pave the way" for Starlink Mobile to become a "major" US carrier, competing directly with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
Once the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US telecom regulator, signs off on the deal, SpaceX plans to roll out a new architecture that combines its satellite-to-mobile constellation with a terrestrial mobile network.
What the licenses cover
The licenses include up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band. According to SpaceX, this will help Starlink Mobile's signal penetrate walls and buildings. The company previously bought 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar to strengthen its direct-to-device service.
New satellites
The FCC has also approved a plan to deploy 15,000 second-generation (V2) Starlink Mobile satellites. SpaceX says they will offer more than 100 times the bandwidth of the current generation.
"With this new low-band spectrum and our Gen2 constellation, Starlink Mobile can now become the first network operator to deploy both satellite and terrestrial spectrum," SpaceX says. The company adds that it would be one network providing Americans with reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones and everywhere in between.
