SpaceX ($SPCX) announced an agreement on October 8 to acquire nationwide low-band spectrum licenses from Grain Management, expanding its Starlink Mobile network into traditional cellular services. Shares of AT&T ($T), T-Mobile ($TMUS), and Verizon ($VZ) fell more than 6% in after-hours trading following the announcement, according to Bloomberg.
- The agreement covers up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band, with licenses covering nearly the entire U.S. population.
- The acquisition price was not disclosed and the transaction remains subject to final FCC approval.
- The spectrum will support indoor cellular coverage and complement Starlink's existing satellite-to-mobile network.
- The FCC also approved SpaceX's next-generation Starlink Mobile constellation, authorizing 15,000 satellites designed for direct-to-device connectivity.
- As of 5 p.m. ET, AT&T shares fell 7.3%, while T-Mobile and Verizon declined 6.6%. SpaceX shares rose 1.5%.
- Federal lobbying disclosures show that SpaceX ($SPCX) paid two outside lobbying firms a combined $200,000 during the first half of 2026. The firms reported lobbying on satellite communications, space launch competition, and federal launch funding, although the filings do not specifically mention the spectrum acquisition.
Relevant Companies
- SpaceX ($SPCX) - Acquiring spectrum to expand Starlink into terrestrial mobile services.
- AT&T ($T) - Shares declined following the announcement of a potential new nationwide competitor.
- T-Mobile ($TMUS) - Shares fell as SpaceX outlined plans to enter the U.S. mobile carrier market.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
