SpaceX is reportedly considering launching its own Starlink-branded mobile service in the US, potentially putting it in direct competition with major carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. The move follows the FCC’s approval of SpaceX’s $17 billion acquisition of wireless spectrum from EchoStar and trademark filings for “Starlink Mobile.”
Originally focused on satellite internet for rural areas, Starlink has expanded into direct-to-cell connectivity, allowing smartphones to connect to satellites when traditional coverage is unavailable. A consumer mobile service would build on that technology.
While creating a nationwide wireless network would require significant investment and SpaceX has less spectrum than established carriers, the company’s vertically integrated model – designing satellites, launching them with its own rockets and operating one of the world’s largest low-Earth orbit satellite networks – could give it a unique advantage in combining satellite and cellular connectivity.
Source: Android Authority
