SpaceX seeks 80,000 US cell sites for Starlink Mobile

SpaceX is negotiating with telecom tower operators to secure about 80,000 cell site locations across the United States, as it moves Starlink toward competing directly with the country's major mobile carriers, according to ZDNet Korea.

The company plans to combine satellite and terrestrial networks, a setup that would put Starlink Mobile in direct competition with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. SpaceX has already received FCC approval to deploy up to 15,000 satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) service.

On spectrum, SpaceX holds 14MHz in the 800MHz band. Starlink Mobile is to operate mainly on S-band spectrum acquired from EchoStar, with the 800MHz holdings used to improve indoor coverage.

SpaceX is also weighing an MVNO approach and the possibility of acquiring network assets, according to the report.

Capacity targets

The company aims to expand the total bandwidth of the Starlink satellite network 100-fold within about three years, and eventually deploy about 100,000 satellites.

The push follows a longer shift in positioning: in 2020, CEO Elon Musk said Starlink would not threaten existing telecom carriers. In September 2026, Starlink prompted debate over universal service and rural internet, and on October 9, 2026, SpaceX was reported to be seeking 800MHz spectrum to target the terrestrial telecom market.