SpaceX is reportedly negotiating for access to at least 80,000 U.S. cell sites, a move that could turn Starlink into a nationwide wireless carrier competing with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
The talks remain preliminary, and SpaceX has not publicly confirmed any agreements covering those sites. It also has not announced a launch date or pricing for a standalone national phone service, so there is no guarantee Starlink would cost less than existing plans.
Elon Musk said on SpaceX's October earnings call that the company would expand its terrestrial networks where it is permitted to operate. He added that satellite launches and spectrum purchases would help Starlink Mobile become a major U.S. carrier.
Crown Castle, which owns and operates about 40,000 cell towers, is reportedly among the companies involved. CEO Chris Hillabrant was asked on an Oct. 21 earnings call about possible leasing talks with SpaceX and other satellite providers, and he declined to discuss specific customers.
You can assume that we're talking to all parties
Chris Hillabrant, CEO of Crown Castle
Why satellites need towers
Satellites alone leave gaps. They can reach remote areas with few towers, but their signals can struggle to get to phones inside buildings or anywhere with a blocked view of the sky, and ground-based equipment can deliver stronger, steadier service in those spots.
The industry had about 158,500 purpose-built towers in 2025, according to the Wireless Infrastructure Association. That count does not translate directly to SpaceX's target, because a cell site is not the same as a tower and one structure can carry equipment from several networks.
SpaceX has also discussed adding small cellular base stations to the Starlink equipment at customers' homes and businesses. Those addresses were chosen for home internet, though, and may not match where a national phone network needs more coverage.
Spectrum and satellite approvals
Spectrum is another piece. Grain Management announced on Oct. 8 that it agreed to sell its nationwide 800 MHz portfolio to SpaceX, a deal that still needs Federal Communications Commission approval. Lower frequencies like these generally travel farther and get through buildings better than higher ones.
The FCC also authorized SpaceX in October to deploy up to 15,000 direct-to-device satellites, though the approval does not mean they are all in service. SpaceX expects to begin deploying its next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027.
Investors react
Investors have already reacted. Major wireless stocks fell on Oct. 23 after word of the tower talks, while cellular infrastructure companies rose. Analysts at TD Cowen reportedly estimated that a nationwide terrestrial network could cost more than $80 billion, and construction could take years.
SpaceX already works with one potential rival. Its T-Satellite with Starlink partnership with T-Mobile lets compatible phones connect to satellites in certain areas without traditional cellular coverage, and that arrangement is separate from the proposed national service.
