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SpaceX in Talks to Access 80,000 Cell Sites for New Network
SpaceX is negotiating to lease 80,000 cellular sites from Crown Castle to build a standalone mobile network.
What: Elon Musk aims to deploy 15,000 satellites for direct-to-phone mobile connectivity, using terrestrial cell site leases to supplement the infrastructure network.
Why it matters: SpaceX is aggressively moving from a satellite internet provider to a full-stack mobile carrier, threatening incumbent telcos by controlling both the ground-level towers and orbital satellite assets.
Decoder
- Low-band spectrum: Radio frequencies that travel long distances and penetrate buildings easily, making them critical for wide-area mobile network coverage.
Original article
SpaceX is in talks with Crown Castle Inc., one of the largest owners of cellular towers in the US, as part of its plans to secure a minimum of 80,000 cell sites across the country. Crown Castle is likely also in talks with Amazon and other satellite-based telecom providers regarding leasing deals. Elon Musk has openly discussed creating a standalone wireless carrier from scratch. SpaceX recently acquired low-band spectrum and has received approval to launch 15,000 satellites to provide mobile service directly to phones.
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