SpaceX is reportedly working to position Starlink Mobile as the fourth major US carrier, targeting at least 80,000 cell sites through infrastructure talks and next-gen satellites.
Analysts examine the multi-billion dollar network buildout and its broader implications for existing carrier partnerships.
According to a Bloomberg report, the company is already in talks with at least one major mobile infrastructure provider. At the same time, tower management company Crown Castle believes that SpaceX’s moves could act as a positive catalyst for its own business. Crown Castle manages 40.000 towers and is in talks with all parties involved.
The 80.000-point number is considered particularly significant, as it is on par with the big three US carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, which each lease access to about 80.000 towers. In addition to the towers, SpaceX plans to utilize a combination of next-generation satellites, cell towers and smaller relay devices for homes and businesses.
Market analysts estimate that the creation of this network will cost tens of billions of dollars. Some experts assume that this move may be aimed at putting pressure on the three major providers to sign a cooperation agreement. So far, however, the heads of the three companies have rejected this possibility. T-Mobile is already a partner of SpaceX and the exclusive provider of the first generation of the Starlink Mobile service, although it has recently downplayed the importance of satellite connectivity.
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