SpaceX has taken a major step toward launching a Starlink mobile service for US consumers, announcing the acquisition of a low-bandwidth spectrum portfolio. The company is buying licences for up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800MHz band, according to a statement issued on Thursday afternoon.
Shares of American telcos fell sharply in after-hours trading following the announcement. Verizon Communications, which has the most mobile subscribers in the country, dropped 7 per cent. AT&T tumbled 7.5 per cent and T-Mobile US fell 6.7 per cent. The move into retail contracts would mark one of SpaceX's most significant commercial expansions since launching Starlink, which now provides high-speed internet in more than 160 countries.
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk described the deal as a "very big deal" in an X post. Shares in the company, which he described as an AI-to-rockets group, rose 2.7 per cent in after-hours trading. Ahead of its record-breaking initial public offering in June, SpaceX executives had told investors the company was considering a Starlink retail product. Last year the company paid $17bn to buy wireless spectrum licences from embattled operator Echo Star, laying groundwork for its US expansion.
The low-band spectrum would give SpaceX access to a much larger market than its satellite broadband alone and could reduce its reliance on telecoms partners such as T-Mobile. Following final approval from the Federal Communications Commission, SpaceX said it will combine its satellite-to-mobile services with a terrestrial network. The spectrum would provide a "coverage layer" allowing Starlink Mobile signals to penetrate walls, so customers can use their devices indoors. Bernstein analysts noted that buying spectrum is not a commitment to build a nationwide network, but makes that option more credible and less expensive.
Fuente: Financial Times Companies · Resumido por HeadlinesBriefing