SpaceX seeks 80,000 cell sites to become a major US carrier

SpaceX is in talks with Crown Castle to access at least 80,000 cell sites, pairing towers with direct-to-cell satellites to compete with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. This signals a future carrier option for creators who need coverage beyond current networks.

What happened

SpaceX plans to access at least 80,000 cell sites as part of efforts to compete directly with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, according to a report from Bloomberg. Sources tell the publication that SpaceX is in talks with Crown Castle Inc., one of the nation’s largest cell tower owners. The move would give SpaceX access to half of the 158,500 cell towers currently operational in the US, according to Reuters.

When asked about a potential partnership with SpaceX, Amazon, or other satellite services during an earnings call on Wednesday, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant said, “I don’t think I want to get into customer-specific detail, but you can assume that we’re talking to all parties.” SpaceX plans to pair a network of cell towers with its constellation of direct-to-cell satellites.

Earlier this month, SpaceX acquired a portfolio of low-band spectrum licenses while also receiving FCC approval to deploy 15,000 upgraded V2 Starlink Mobile satellites — moves the company says will “pave the way” for Starlink Mobile to become a “major” carrier in the US. The Elon Musk-owned company also acquired 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion last year.

Key facts

• SpaceX plans to access at least 80,000 cell sites and is in talks with Crown Castle Inc., according to Bloomberg.
• The move would give SpaceX access to half of the 158,500 cell towers currently operational in the US, according to Reuters.
• SpaceX plans to pair a network of cell towers with its constellation of direct-to-cell satellites.
• Earlier this month, SpaceX received FCC approval to deploy 15,000 upgraded V2 Starlink Mobile satellites and acquired low-band spectrum licenses.
• SpaceX acquired 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion last year.

Our analysis

The reported Crown Castle talks suggest SpaceX is trying to combine terrestrial cell towers with its direct-to-cell satellite constellation. That would be a different structural position from a satellite-only service. For operators who rely on mobile uploads, live streaming, or field content, a carrier with both tower access and satellite backup could reduce coverage gaps in areas where current networks are weak. The wording from Crown Castle’s CEO — “you can assume that we’re talking to all parties” — likely signals that tower owners are open to multiple bidders, not that a deal is final.

SpaceX’s spectrum moves and FCC approval for 15,000 upgraded V2 Starlink Mobile satellites indicate the company is assembling the regulatory and infrastructure pieces needed to offer mobile service rather than just broadband. The $17 billion EchoStar spectrum acquisition from last year gives SpaceX a stake in 2GHz spectrum, which is used for mobile connectivity. If the effort proceeds, the competitive landscape for US mobile service would likely expand beyond Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, with direct implications for creators and brand teams that depend on mobile data plans and coverage.

Nothing in the source says a Crown Castle agreement has been completed. The reported access to 80,000 cell sites is a plan, not a signed contract. Operators should treat this as an early signal of a carrier option that may take time to become available.

What it means for operators

• Track Starlink Mobile announcements for beta or availability windows in your region, especially if you run field content, live events, or creator activations in areas with poor cellular coverage.
• Avoid changing carrier contracts now; the source reports talks and plans, not a launched service. Use the time to review which locations in your content workflow have the most connectivity failures.
• If you manage creators or brand teams that travel, keep a list of current carrier dead zones. A future SpaceX mobile option could be most useful there, but it is not yet a buying decision.
• Watch for confirmed Crown Castle or carrier partnership details. A deal would likely signal faster rollout than a satellite-only network, but the source does not confirm one.