SpaceX buys low-band spectrum

SpaceX has agreed to purchase up to fourteen megahertz of spectrum in the eight hundred megahertz band from investment firm Grain Management to build a terrestrial mobile network.

Spectrum came from T-Mobile

Grain Management bought the spectrum rights from T-Mobile earlier this year. T-Mobile had obtained the spectrum when it bought Sprint in twenty twenty and was required to sell the licenses under a merger condition imposed…

Spectrum covers entire US

The eight hundred megahertz spectrum licenses cover approximately one hundred percent of the US population. It ranges from four point eighty five megahertz to fourteen megahertz depending on the county.

SpaceX also buying mid-band spectrum

SpaceX is buying sixty five megahertz of nationwide mid-band spectrum licenses from EchoStar. The FCC approved that seventeen billion dollar purchase in May twenty twenty six.

Low-band fills coverage gap

SpaceX said the low-band spectrum will provide coverage that ensures Starlink Mobile's signal penetrates through obstacles such as walls and can provide service to customers' devices even when they are in buildings.

“most existing mobile devices already support this underused band”

FCC approves fifteen thousand satellites

SpaceX received US approval this week to launch fifteen thousand satellites for an upgraded version of its mobile service.

Musk plans small base stations

CEO Elon Musk said in August that Starlink would deploy many small base stations instead of expensive and difficult to locate large cellular base stations.Starlink broadband antennas on roofs can help provide connectivity to cellphones.

Rural carriers oppose spectrum deals

The Rural Wireless Association opposed EchoStar's spectrum sales to AT&T and SpaceX, saying the deals continue the troubling pattern of spectrum aggregation that disadvantages rural wireless providers.

“continue the troubling pattern of spectrum aggregation that disadvantages rural wireless providers”

Stock prices fall on SpaceX move

Stock prices for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and satellite company AST SpaceMobile fell sharply today in response to SpaceX's spectrum deal announcement.

Big three carriers pool resources

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon finalized a joint venture agreement last week to pool spectrum for a new venture focused on using satellite to cover dead zones in terrestrial networks.

Service expected by late twenty twenty seven

SpaceX previously told the Canadian government it will begin launching next generation Starlink direct to device satellites with service beginning by late twenty twenty seven and launch thousands more satellites by the end of twenty…