SpaceX Moves Closer to Rivaling Major U.S. Carriers

SpaceX is one step closer to competing with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, according to MacRumors. The company announced two developments this week: an agreement to buy low-band spectrum in the 800MHz band and FCC approval for its next-generation Starlink satellites.

MacRumors reports the spectrum purchase addresses one of the "remaining technical gaps" for competing with other carriers. The site notes that most phones on sale already support the 800MHz band SpaceX wants.

The FCC approved the Starlink Mobile Gen2 constellation application, which allows SpaceX to launch 15,000 satellites built for 2GHz spectrum around the globe, according to MacRumors. SpaceX says these satellites will "deliver more than 100 times the bandwidth" of the current generation. The FCC also gave SpaceX a waiver to offer satellite wireless service without leasing spectrum from a terrestrial carrier.

After the spectrum purchase gets final FCC approval, SpaceX will combine its satellites with an "advanced terrestrial deployment" to connect devices everywhere, MacRumors says. The company says the 2GHz mid-band spectrum will offer high-bandwidth capacity in the U.S., while the new low-band spectrum will let Starlink's signal penetrate obstacles like walls.

SpaceX plans to be the first carrier to deploy both satellite and terrestrial spectrum, according to MacRumors. It promises a single network with "a reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones, and everywhere in between."

The news already has ripple effects. SpaceX powers T-Mobile's satellite feature, but T-Mobile recently removed SpaceX branding from its website after finalizing a joint satellite venture with AT&T and Verizon. MacRumors reports the Starlink Mobile announcement sent shares of all three carriers down, with Verizon seeing its biggest one-day drop since 2002.

• AT&T
• FCC
• SpaceX
• Starlink
• T-Mobile
• Verizon