SpaceX has acquired a portfolio of low band spectrum licenses that it says will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major US carrier.
The big picture: Once the Federal Communications Commission signs off on the deal, SpaceX says it will deploy an architecture that combines its satellite-to-mobile constellation with a terrestrial mobile network, competing directly with the three incumbents.
Zoom in: The licenses include up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band, which SpaceX says will allow Starlink Mobile's signal to penetrate through walls and buildings.
- SpaceX previously acquired 2 GHz spectrum from EchoStar as part of its push into direct-to-device service.
By the numbers: The FCC has also approved plans to deploy 15,000 V2 Starlink Mobile satellites that will offer more than 100 times the bandwidth of the current generation, according to SpaceX.
What they're saying: "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 said.
- "One network that provides Americans with a reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones, and everywhere in between," the company added.
Why it matters: A phone network that works in dead zones changes what a plan is worth to anyone who drives, hikes or lives outside dense coverage, and it puts a fourth bidder into a market three carriers have split for years.
What's next: The deal needs FCC approval before SpaceX can use the new licenses, and the company is still absorbing the spectrum it agreed to buy from EchoStar.
