SpaceX is preparing to build a terrestrial mobile network to compete head-to-head with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon, executives said during the company's first earnings call.
Key facts
- SpaceX plans to build a terrestrial mobile network to compete with US carriers.
- Executives said the company aims to 'acquire quite a few' customers from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
- The plans were shared by SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell and CEO Elon Musk during the company's first earnings call.
- SpaceX does not plan large cell towers but small base stations across the US, according to Ars Technica.
SpaceX is preparing to build a terrestrial mobile network intended to compete directly with the largest US wireless carriers, according to reporting from The Verge. The company signaled its intent to ‘acquire quite a few’ of the customers currently subscribed to T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
The message was delivered by SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell and CEO Elon Musk during the Q&A section of the company’s first earnings call, The Verge reported. The comments position SpaceX as a would-be head-to-head rival to the three dominant carriers in the United States.
According to Ars Technica, SpaceX does not plan to build large cell towers for the effort. Instead, the company intends to deploy small base stations across the United States.
Ars Technica also reported that SpaceX claims its Starlink Mobile offering will be better than AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, though the sources do not detail how the company plans to demonstrate that or when the service would launch.
The announcement marks an escalation of SpaceX’s ambitions in wireless communications, extending beyond its existing Starlink satellite services and into a more conventional ground-based mobile market long dominated by the established carriers.
The sources do not provide pricing, coverage timelines, or specific customer targets beyond the executives’ stated goal of taking share from the incumbent operators.
Why it matters
The US wireless market has long been dominated by three major carriers, so a serious new entrant backed by SpaceX could reshape competition and consumer choice. If the company follows through, it could pressure pricing and service across the industry.
Frequently asked questions
What is SpaceX planning to build?
According to The Verge, SpaceX is preparing to build a terrestrial mobile network to compete with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
Will SpaceX use large cell towers?
No. Ars Technica reports that SpaceX does not plan large cell towers but instead intends to deploy small base stations across the US.
Who announced the plans?
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell and CEO Elon Musk shared the plans during the Q&A portion of the company's first earnings call, according to The Verge.