SpaceX agrees to buy spectrum for Starlink’s carrier ambitions

SpaceX has agreed to buy a nationwide block of 800 MHz spectrum from infrastructure investor Grain Management, part of a plan to take Starlink beyond satellite broadband and into U.S. mobile service. Spectrum is the radio real estate wireless networks use; this low-frequency band travels farther and penetrates buildings better than higher-frequency signals, addressing a major obstacle to serving phones indoors. SpaceX says it will combine the licenses with next-generation satellites and a ground network, potentially allowing Starlink Mobile to compete directly with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon rather than merely partner with them. But the transaction still needs FCC approval, and the up to 14 MHz of spectrum alone does not make a nationwide cellular network: SpaceX must still build and prove the service.