SpaceX has entered an agreement to acquire up to 14 megahertz of 800 MHz spectrum from Grain Management. This low-band spectrum, which covers nearly the entire US population, was previously held by T-Mobile. The acquisition aims to improve signal penetration for Starlink Mobile, allowing service to reach devices inside buildings.
This deal complements SpaceX’s existing purchase of 65 MHz of mid-band spectrum from EchoStar, which was approved by the FCC in May 2026 for $17 billion. SpaceX plans to deploy these resources alongside a new fleet of 15,000 next-generation satellites, following FCC approval granted this week.
The company claims its V2 satellites will provide over 100 times the bandwidth of current models. SpaceX intends to begin launching these satellites by late 2027, with thousands more expected by the end of 2028. The firm aims to provide reliable connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks struggle.
The move has drawn criticism from the Rural Wireless Association, which expressed concerns over spectrum aggregation. Meanwhile, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon recently formed a joint venture to utilize satellite technology for covering dead zones, signaling a competitive response to SpaceX's expansion into the mobile market.
Financial markets reacted to the announcement, with shares of AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AST SpaceMobile experiencing a decline. While the terms of the SpaceX-Grain transaction remain undisclosed, the spectrum was originally part of a $2.9 billion exchange between T-Mobile and Grain Management.
