SpaceX Acquires Low-Band Spectrum Licenses for Mobile Network

<p>SpaceX has reached an agreement to purchase nationwide low-band spectrum licenses for a planned terrestrial mobile network that will complement the existing Starlink cellular service.</p><p>SpaceX will acquire up to 14 megahertz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band from investment firm Grain Management, which obtained the spectrum rights from T-Mobile earlier this year. T-Mobile had acquired the spectrum when it purchased Sprint in 2020 and was mandated to sell the licenses as part of a merger condition imposed by the US government.</p><p>SpaceX stated, "This prime low-band spectrum addresses one of the key remaining technical gaps that will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the US." Additionally, SpaceX received US approval this week to launch 15,000 satellites for an upgraded version of its mobile service, which it claims will be significantly more powerful than the current offering.</p>