Updated Version 2 - SpaceX Targets U.S. Wireless Operators Through Spectrum Acquisition

SpaceX has reached an agreement to acquire a nationwide portfolio of low-band spectrum licenses for mobile communications, paving the way for its Starlink Mobile service to directly enter the U.S. telecommunications market.

Apple (AAPL.US) is scheduled to launch a comprehensive new smart home strategy next week and plans to hold a second event in October to unveil its first touchscreen MacBook and the new iPad mini.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Starlink Mobile Gen2's application to launch 15,000 satellites. Low-frequency radio waves can expand coverage and enhance signal penetration through walls and tree canopies, improving indoor reception. The share prices of T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T each fell by nearly 7% in after-hours trading. On October 8, Reuters reported that SpaceX reached an agreement on Thursday to acquire a nationwide portfolio of low-frequency spectrum, enabling Elon Musk's satellite company to directly challenge giant traditional wireless carriers across the United States from orbit. While Starlink Mobile’s existing global 2 GHz mid-band spectrum offers high bandwidth capacity, the new spectrum will allow signal penetration through obstacles. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Low-frequency bands are favored for their longer transmission ranges and ability to penetrate dense structures like walls and tree cover—addressing a major technical challenge previously faced by satellite-based mobile networks. By combining nationwide low-frequency radio coverage with high-frequency space transmission, SpaceX is positioning Starlink Mobile to entirely bypass traditional cell towers, challenging the wireless oligopoly both in wide-area coverage and indoor signal reliability. This deal also increases competitive pressure on traditional operators, shifting direct-to-device satellite technology from a supplementary feature for remote dead spots to a comprehensive commercial rival to terrestrial cellular networks. The share prices of T-Mobile US, Verizon, and AT&T each dropped nearly 7% in after-hours trading. “Incumbent wireless carriers have been publicly skeptical, arguing that SpaceX’s network quality could not match theirs,” said analysts at William Blair. “We expect SpaceX to launch very attractive bundled packages of Starlink broadband with Starlink Mobile, and the company may include Grok in these bundles.” The deal involves acquiring 100% of a nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio from private equity firm Grain Management, pending regulatory approval from the FCC. Earlier this year, Grain had acquired this spectrum from T-Mobile. Crucially, most existing, unmodified mobile phones already support the 800 MHz band, so consumers will not need to purchase special satellite phones. This week, the FCC also approved Starlink Mobile’s application for its second-generation satellite constellation, authorizing SpaceX to launch 15,000 satellites worldwide optimized for the 2 GHz band. This new satellite array will operate in very low Earth orbit, providing regular smartphones with higher bandwidth and low-latency connections.