SpaceX intends to develop terrestrial components for its Starlink service to establish a mobile offering, according to company President Gwynne Shotwell.
Shotwell stated that the spectrum acquired from EchoStar includes terrestrial capabilities, which the company plans to utilize for building out its ground-based infrastructure.
We definitely intend to build out terrestrial.
— Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President
The expansion aims to provide the necessary infrastructure to transform Starlink into a mobile service, Shotwell added.
Analyst perspectives on market competition
David Barden of New Street Research noted the disparity in available spectrum between the companies.
65 MHz
The spectrum available to SpaceX compared to 1,000 MHz held by terrestrial players
It makes no sense for SpaceX to replicate terrestrial players' 30-year builds
— David Barden, New Street Research
However, some market observers believe the potential of this business segment is being overlooked. David Wagner, a portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors, agreed with comments suggesting that investors may be undervaluing this side of the SpaceX business.
Updates
SpaceX reportedly plans to build its second-generation system with up to 15,000 satellites, pending approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
SpaceX is reportedly planning to build a second-generation system consisting of up to 15,000 satellites, pending approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
SpaceX is reportedly planning to build a second-generation system consisting of up to 15,000 satellites, pending approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Unverified reports suggest SpaceX may build its second-generation system with up to 15,000 satellites, provided the FCC grants necessary approval.
SpaceX is reportedly planning to build a second-generation system consisting of up to 15,000 satellites, pending approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that the Starlink Mobile service will be '100 times better' by leveraging EchoStar bandwidth and next-generation V2 satellites scheduled to begin flying next year. Additionally, Shotwell expects to acquire 'quite a few' customers from major wireless carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, while unverified reports suggest SpaceX plans to build a second-generation system comprising up to 15,000 satellites, pending FCC approval.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that the Starlink Mobile service will be '100 times better' once it utilizes bandwidth from EchoStar and next-generation V2 satellites, which are expected to begin flying next year. Additionally, Shotwell expressed optimism regarding winning 'quite a few' customers from major wireless carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, though analysts warn that securing an MVNO agreement may be necessary to remain competitive within the next five years. Unverified reports also suggest that SpaceX plans to build a second-generation system consisting of up to 15,000 satellites, pending FCC approval.
SpaceX plans to expand its fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation satellites for Starlink Mobile, pending FCC approval. The company aims to launch these direct-to-device satellites by late 2027 to enable connection speeds of up to 150 Mbps on standard smartphones. Additionally, SpaceX is working with manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google to integrate the necessary satellite frequency support into future devices by the end of 2027.
SpaceX now plans to expand its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; these satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps without new hardware, leveraging 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar—increasing capacity from the current 5 MHz—and partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google are underway to integrate support into devices launching by end-2027, while SpaceX will not operate as a standalone carrier but will extend coverage into dead zones via existing telecom partners.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if approved by the FCC, with launches beginning in late 2027 and global coverage targeted by end of 2028; these V2 satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps without new hardware, support voice and data on the 2 GHz band, and integrate with Apple, Samsung, and Google devices—first of which are expected by end of 2027, while SpaceX will gain temporary access to 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum before its November 30, 2027 legal completion, vastly expanding capacity beyond its current 5 MHz partnerships.
SpaceX now plans to expand its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and global coverage targeted by end of 2028; these satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach 150 Mbps speeds without new hardware, leveraging 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar—up from the current 5 MHz—and partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google to integrate satellite support into 2027 device models, while the service will remain a carrier-backed coverage extender, not a standalone mobile operator.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end of 2028; the company will leverage 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar—up from its current 5 MHz—to enable standard smartphones to reach 150 Mbps speeds without new hardware, with first compatible devices expected by end of 2027, while confirming it will partner with carriers rather than operate as an independent network operator.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; the V2 system will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps without new hardware, leveraging 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar — a 13-fold increase from the current 5 MHz — and will support voice, messaging, and data via partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google, with first compatible phones arriving by end-2027.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; these satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach 150 Mbps speeds without new hardware, supported by 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar—nearly 13 times the current 5 MHz—and partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google to integrate compatible modems, while the service will operate as a shared platform open to all carriers, not as an independent operator.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if approved by the FCC, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; these satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps without new hardware, using 65 MHz of spectrum acquired from EchoStar—boosting capacity over 100-fold from the current 5 MHz—and will support voice, messaging, and data via partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google, while operating as a shared platform open to all carriers rather than a standalone network.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; these V2 satellites will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps speeds using newly acquired 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum—boosting capacity over 100 times—and will support voice, messaging, and data on the same infrastructure, while partnerships with Apple, Samsung, and Google aim to embed compatible modems in 2027 devices, all without SpaceX becoming a standalone carrier but instead offering its network as a shared platform to all mobile operators.
SpaceX now plans to increase its Starlink Mobile satellite fleet from 650 to up to 15,000 next-generation (V2) satellites if FCC-approved, with launches beginning in late 2027 and seamless global coverage targeted by end-2028; the V2 system will enable standard smartphones to reach up to 150 Mbps speeds using newly acquired 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum—boosting capacity over 100-fold—and will support voice, messaging, and data on a shared platform open to all carriers, not as an independent operator, while first compatible phones are expected by end-2027.
