SpaceX has spent 17 billion dollars to become a mobile operator. To enter Spain, it isn’t enough to fight Movistar and
SpaceX bought EchoStar 50 MHz of spectrum for 17 billion dollars, but that license only works in the United States
The European 2 GHz licenses expire in May 2027 and cannot be transferred: SpaceX will have to compete for them.
Mobile telecommunications is crossing a border that seemed insurmountable: the terrestrial surface. Until now, we connected with our smartphone through towers anchored to the ground, but this has completely changed thanks to Direct to Cell technology: we can connect directly to satellites. With the same old phone. Starlink was a pioneer in the technology, but other companies are coming in behind it, such as Amazon Leo or AST SpaceMobile. And it raises a big question mark.
The omnipresent operator. Traditional companies have coverage wherever they can build a tower and reach the fiber link that gives them access to the internet. What companies like Starlink propose is something different: since their constellation of satellites aims to cover much of the globe, anyone who is under it will automatically have mobile coverage. This is an advantage that traditional operators will have to fight.
SpaceX has made it clear. When it started with Direct to Cell two and a half years ago, it seemed like Elon Musk was planning an additional service on top of what Starlink already provided: satellite internet access. Deals with operators like T-Mobile suggested that the target was businesses, not the average user. But no: SpaceX wants to be a full-fledged mobile operator.$SPCXB
SpaceX bought EchoStar 50 MHz of spectrum for 17 billion dollars, but that license only works in the United States
The European 2 GHz licenses expire in May 2027 and cannot be transferred: SpaceX will have to compete for them.
Mobile telecommunications is crossing a border that seemed insurmountable: the terrestrial surface. Until now, we connected with our smartphone through towers anchored to the ground, but this has completely changed thanks to Direct to Cell technology: we can connect directly to satellites. With the same old phone. Starlink was a pioneer in the technology, but other companies are coming in behind it, such as Amazon Leo or AST SpaceMobile. And it raises a big question mark.
The omnipresent operator. Traditional companies have coverage wherever they can build a tower and reach the fiber link that gives them access to the internet. What companies like Starlink propose is something different: since their constellation of satellites aims to cover much of the globe, anyone who is under it will automatically have mobile coverage. This is an advantage that traditional operators will have to fight.
SpaceX has made it clear. When it started with Direct to Cell two and a half years ago, it seemed like Elon Musk was planning an additional service on top of what Starlink already provided: satellite internet access. Deals with operators like T-Mobile suggested that the target was businesses, not the average user. But no: SpaceX wants to be a full-fledged mobile operator.$SPCXB