SpaceX says it’s coming for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile customers
SpaceX plans to launch next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027 to compete directly with major wireless carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The company aims to provide significantly improved cellular coverage, positioning itself as a full-fledged mobile carrier.
Why it matters
This move signals a major shift in the telecommunications industry, as satellite-based connectivity moves from a niche safety feature to a direct competitor for traditional cellular services.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said she expects to take some customers from the Big 3 wireless carriers as it upgrades Starlink Mobile. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images SpaceX's Starlink Mobile provides cellular coverage in dead zones and during network outages. The company has plans to turn Starlink Mobile into a full-fledged wireless carrier. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said next-gen satellites will boost Starlink Mobile's coverage. SpaceX wants to turn Starlink Mobile into a full-fledged mobile carrier, and it expects to hit the Big Three wireless giants in the process. During SpaceX's first earnings call since its June IPO, President Gwynne Shotwell said the company plans to launch its next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027 and start providing an upgraded service by the end of that year. The network would use the extra wireless capacity — 65 megahertz of spectrum — that the company agreed to acquire from EchoStar.
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