DIGITAL ECONOMY · ANALYSIS
SpaceX reportedly discussing access to at least 80,000 cell sites
According to Bloomberg, cited by The Verge, SpaceX is negotiating with Crown Castle for access to US cell sites. The project would combine terrestrial infrastructure with direct-to-phone satellites, but no completed agreement has been established.
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SpaceX is reportedly seeking access to at least 80,000 cell sites to expand its mobile business in the United States. The Verge reports this information, citing Bloomberg, whose sources describe discussions with Crown Castle, one of the country’s major telecommunications tower owners.
The reported ambition is to compete directly with Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. SpaceX plans to combine a network of terrestrial towers with its constellation of satellites capable of communicating directly with phones. The project described therefore links ground infrastructure with the space component of its mobile offering.
Asked during an earnings call about a potential partnership with SpaceX, Amazon or other satellite services, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant referred to discussions with all parties. He gave no details specific to any client. This general statement therefore confirms neither the terms of any negotiations with SpaceX nor the number of sites reported by Bloomberg.
From a strategic perspective, access to terrestrial infrastructure could give SpaceX’s mobile project a new dimension. This interpretation remains conditional: the document provides no signed contract, access pricing or deployment schedule for the sites concerned. It also provides no basis for assessing the coverage or performance that such a combination could actually offer subscribers.