SpaceX plans to make Starlink a major US mobile carrier

SpaceX says new spectrum and an expanded satellite network could help Starlink Mobile become a major mobile carrier in the United States. The company announced it had acquired 14 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band.

SpaceX says the low-band spectrum can help signals penetrate obstacles such as walls, complementing its existing mid-band spectrum, which it describes as suited to high-bandwidth, high-speed connections. It plans to use the spectrum alongside satellites and a ground-based deployment, such as masts, to build what it calls “the world’s most advanced mobile network.”

The Federal Communications Commission has also approved Starlink Mobile’s Gen2 constellation application, allowing SpaceX to launch 15,000 additional satellites. The company says the new satellites could deliver more than 100 times the bandwidth of the current generation for high-speed mobile service worldwide.

The move does not mean a major service launch is imminent. Tim Farrar of TMF Associates told CNBC that the spectrum is still limited and that reliable building penetration in urban areas would require SpaceX to deploy ground towers. SpaceX may need more spectrum and substantial ground infrastructure to compete with operators such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.