SpaceX said Thursday it has agreed to buy nationwide low-band spectrum licenses for a terrestrial mobile network intended to complement Starlink’s satellite-to-phone service. The company said the plan, which requires Federal Communications Commission approval, could help Starlink Mobile become a major U.S. carrier.
The deal is for up to 14 megahertz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band from investment firm Grain Management, Ars Technica reported. SpaceX said the spectrum would address a remaining technical need for its mobile service. The Washington Examiner reported that low-band frequencies can cover longer distances and pass through structures. Grain Management had bought the rights from T-Mobile, which was required to sell them after its 2020 purchase of Sprint, according to Ars Technica.