SpaceX is in talks to use at least 80,000 cell sites across the U.S., Bloomberg reported on October 22. Towers would give Starlink Mobile a ground network to go with its satellites, the missing piece for a full phone carrier that competes with Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. Nothing has been signed, and SpaceX's own timeline puts service in early 2028.
What was reported
According to Bloomberg, SpaceX wants access to a minimum of 80,000 U.S. cell sites and is talking with at least one major tower company, Crown Castle. No lease or contract has been reported as signed.
80,000 sites is about half of the roughly 158,500 purpose-built cell towers in the U.S. Tower owners' stocks rose on the news, while T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon shares fell.
What SpaceX has said about timing
On SpaceX's October 20 earnings call, President Gwynne Shotwell said the plan is to launch the next generation of mobile satellites through 2027 and turn on service using SpaceX's own spectrum in early 2028. She also said Starlink Mobile passed 22 million monthly users at the end of September, up 37% in three months. Those users reach it through partner carriers like T-Mobile, not a SpaceX plan.
The date has already moved once. In August, SpaceX pointed to the end of 2027. In September, its CFO said the first half of 2028.
Why towers matter
Satellite signals struggle to reach phones indoors. Earlier this month, SpaceX agreed to buy low-band 800 MHz spectrum, which travels farther and gets through walls; that deal still needs FCC approval. Towers and rooftop radios using that spectrum would let Starlink Mobile work inside homes and offices, not just outdoors with a clear view of the sky.
What isn't known yet
| Question | Answer so far |
|---|---|
| Price | Not announced |
| Coverage map | Not published |
| Which phones work | No list yet |
| Launch date | Targeted for early 2028 |
| Tower deals | In talks, none reported as signed |
What it means for your phone plan
Nothing changes for now, and there's no reason to wait to switch plans. Starlink Mobile is more than a year away even on SpaceX's own timeline, which has slipped before.
If you want satellite texting today, T-Mobile's T-Satellite runs on Starlink. It's included on T-Mobile's top plans, and customers of other carriers can add it for $10 a month with an unlocked, eSIM-capable phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Starlink becoming a phone carrier? +
When will Starlink Mobile launch? +
Can I use Starlink on my phone now? +
Should I wait for Starlink Mobile before switching carriers? +
- Bloomberg: SpaceX in talks to access 80,000 cell sites for new network (Oct 22, 2026)
- 24/7 Wall St.: SpaceX is coming for the phone companies (Oct 23, 2026)
- PhoneArena: SpaceX reveals when Starlink Mobile could be your next carrier (Oct 23, 2026)
- Yahoo Finance: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile warn FCC as SpaceX plots a phone network (Oct 2026)
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Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.