SpaceX is reportedly in negotiations to acquire Boost Mobile from EchoStar, according to hinews. Should this transaction be finalized, it would enable the Elon Musk-led company to establish a hybrid cellular-satellite network, potentially elevating it to the fourth position among the leading wireless providers in the United States. The space-launch enterprise has been exploring cellular connectivity, having initiated satellite access for T-Mobile subscribers in 2024. Last year, SpaceX invested $17 billion in wireless spectrum from EchoStar for cellular services, which may assist the company’s Starlink service in penetrating buildings, a challenge it currently faces. “This is the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America,” Musk stated on X at the time of the spectrum acquisition. However, if Musk is still pursuing access to terrestrial networks, it appears that this was not the final piece.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, reportedly engaged in direct discussions with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen in October regarding the acquisition of Boost Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator. EchoStar serves approximately 7.5 million customers through Boost Mobile and its other mobile service, GenMobile. Musk has also reached out to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon about purchasing capacity on their networks. All three carriers declined Musk’s proposals, and they may still have influence over a potential SpaceX acquisition of Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile does not operate its own towers; instead, it leases capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile, which may need to authorize such a transaction. Sources familiar with the matter indicated to hinews that network leases are typically nontransferable.
The three major providers each boast over 100 million subscribers, overshadowing Boost Mobile. While the acquisition would provide SpaceX with an immediate increase in subscribers, the primary benefit of the deal would be granting the company access to terrestrial cellular networks. Securing access to the towers leased to Boost Mobile would significantly enhance coverage—Boost currently serves most of the 48 contiguous states in the U.S.—enabling Starlink to support devices outdoors while relying on cell towers when Starlink signals are unavailable.
