SpaceX told investors it will roll out a Starlink mobile service for U.S. consumers, a move that could upend the $1.6 trillion domestic phone market. President and COO Gwynne Shotwell raised the plan during the company’s recent IPO roadshow, saying the firm may also build its own terrestrial network to sell contracts directly to individuals. The service would bundle voice, data and satellite backup.

SpaceX’s pivot follows a September acquisition of Echo Star’s wireless spectrum licences for $17bn, which analysts view as groundwork for a retail offering. Until now the firm has limited direct‑to‑consumer services, preferring to lease satellite capacity to carriers such as T‑Mobile for rural coverage. A standalone mobile product would broaden its addressable market beyond the 10.3 million broadband users it serves today.

With only 65 MHz of spectrum compared with roughly 1,020 MHz held by Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile, building a competitive network will demand massive capital outlays. Analysts warn the venture could serve chiefly as leverage to negotiate better revenue‑sharing deals with incumbent carriers. Regardless, the announced Starlink mobile push marks the company’s most ambitious foray into consumer telecoms since its IPO.