SpaceX bought AWS-4 and H-block licenses from EchoStar in September 2025 for about $17 billion, split between cash and SpaceX stock, and has agreed to buy nationwide 800 MHz licenses in a deal expected to close in the first half of 2027 [1]. It is also reported to be in talks to buy Boost Mobile, which has not been confirmed [1]. The spectrum underpins Starlink Mobile, the carrier service SpaceX announced on Oct. 8.
On Deutsche Telekom’s third-quarter call on Nov. 5, CEO Tim Höttges said SpaceX would need at least 200 billion euros, about $220 billion, to compete with U.S. carriers, and put SpaceX’s holdings at 76 MHz of spectrum against about 400 MHz for T-Mobile US, which Deutsche Telekom controls, as we reported [1]. Buying an incumbent would close that gap faster than building out, but the three national carriers, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile US, are among the largest U.S. companies by enterprise value, and any deal would need FCC approval.