Satellite communications company SpaceX aims to provide high-speed mobile access to all Americans, no matter where they are. With Starlink Mobile, the world’s largest satellite-to-mobile constellation, the company is one step closer to achieving this goal. The only remaining hurdle was integrating low-frequency radio spectrum capable of passing through walls and allowing users to get quality service inside buildings. But now Starlink is getting an upgrade that could overcome this latest limitation and put the network on par with America’s most trusted phone carriers.
SpaceX announced a deal with investment firm Grain Management that, pending FCC approval, will give Starlink Mobile access to a portfolio of national 800 MHz licenses of up to 14 megahertz of low-band coupled spectrum. According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (via X), “This is the final critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide comprehensive phone coverage in America.”
Starlink Mobile is already equipped with 2 GHz global mid-band spectrum that can provide high-bandwidth capacity in the United States. Having acquired the deployment-ready 800 MHz licenses from Grain Management, Starlink Mobile can become the first network operator to deploy both satellite and terrestrial spectrum. According to SpaceX, it will be “a network that provides Americans with reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones and everywhere in between.”
Should you switch to Starlink as your cell phone carrier?
Starlink is primarily known as a satellite internet service. Reviewers have praised Starlink products for providing reliable internet speeds to people living in remote areas. For example, the Starlink Mini is worth it for travelers who need a portable way to access the internet on the go. But there’s a difference between providing Internet access and mobile network access, and it remains to be seen whether Starlink Mobile will succeed as a direct competitor to companies like T-Mobile and AT&T.
However, there is no denying that SpaceX is serious about breaking into the mobile market. There have even been reports that Starlink could launch its own smartphone. The future of Starlink Mobile could be very bright if you frequently experience dead zones with your current mobile network. Once Starlink Mobile starts operating at full capacity, travelers and rural residents might find it worthwhile to make the switch.
Of course, Starlink wouldn’t be the first provider to offer both internet and mobile services. Additionally, one of the most common complaints about Starlink is its price. You can already find affordable alternatives to Starlink satellite internet, some of which also offer reliable mobile services. Starlink aims to build “the world’s most advanced mobile network,” but sometimes a proven option is just as viable.
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