SpaceX aims to combine satellites and a terrestrial network for Starlink Mobile

SpaceX has announced that it has acquired a portfolio of low-band spectrum licenses to support its ambitions in US mobile telephony. According to The Verge, the company wants to make Starlink Mobile a major carrier, with an architecture combining its satellite constellation with a terrestrial mobile network.

This step remains subject to a regulatory condition: SpaceX says it will deploy this architecture once the Federal Communications Commission has approved the transaction. The announcement therefore does not establish that the new network is already available. The company aims to compete directly with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.

The licenses include up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band. SpaceX says these frequencies will allow Starlink Mobile’s signal to penetrate walls and buildings. This capability is presented as a benefit expected by the company, with no independent measurement in the available information.

The Verge also reports that the FCC has approved plans to deploy 15,000 V2 Starlink Mobile satellites. SpaceX says their bandwidth will be more than 100 times that of the current generation. This approval concerns the satellite plans and must be distinguished from the approval awaited for the license transaction.

From an analytical perspective, the announced combination of terrestrial frequencies and satellites broadens Starlink Mobile’s ambition. Its practical value will nevertheless depend on deployment and the performance actually achieved. The article establishes neither a precise commercial timeline nor verified coverage results.