SpaceX reportedly wants to buy Boost Mobile to become a major US carrier

[Demi-Q]

SpaceX may be preparing to move from satellite internet into mobile phone networks. TechCrunch, citing the Washington Post, reports that Elon Musk spoke to EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen in October about buying Boost Mobile

The aim would be a hybrid cellular and satellite network that could make SpaceX the fourth biggest mobile carrier in the US. EchoStar has around 7.5 million customers across Boost and GenMobile, compared with more than 100 million each at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, all of which reportedly refused to sell Musk network capacity

SpaceX has offered satellite connectivity to T-Mobile users since 2024, and in 2025 it bought $17 billion of spectrum from EchoStar. Musk called that spectrum the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle

Nothing has been agreed. Boost owns no towers and leases capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile, and those leases are usually not transferable, which would complicate any takeover

Combining Starlink's satellites with a ground network would be a unique offering, and coverage in remote areas could improve dramatically. But running a mobile network is very different from launching satellites. Without towers of its own, SpaceX would face big challenges

Would you switch to a SpaceX mobile network? And can satellites ever replace phone towers?

SpaceX reportedly wants to buy Boost Mobile to compete with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com

[RealGaz26]

Charlie Ergen has been trying to make Boost work for years. Selling to SpaceX might be his best exit. It would be a fascinating deal

Regulators will scrutinise any deal closely. Spectrum ownership is sensitive

[TheRock25]

Boost owning no towers is the big problem. Buying customers without infrastructure is risky. SpaceX would be relying on rivals' networks

[GoldbergFan_X]

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon refusing to sell capacity shows they see SpaceX as a threat. They are right to worry. Starlink disrupted home broadband in rural areas. Mobile could be next

Musk rarely does anything small. Owning a carrier would give SpaceX direct customers. That changes Starlink's business model completely

[NatureBoyRyan65]

Seven and a half million customers is a decent starting point. It gives SpaceX instant scale

Growing from there would take years. Lease contracts could be a deal breaker

[Declan31]

That spectrum purchase in 2025 now makes more sense. Musk was planning this all along. Spectrum is the hardest thing to get

[Quiet Glacier]

Mixing satellite and cellular into one network is a bold idea. Coverage everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere. Rural users would love it

Remote areas have been ignored by big carriers for years. Satellites could finally fix that

[WovenScholar]

Direct to phone satellite connections still have limited speeds. Texts and basic data work, but streaming is another matter

Towers will be needed in cities for a long time. Satellites fill gaps rather than replace them

Coverage maps will tell the story. Satellite speeds still lag behind towers