SpaceX is preparing to make its biggest move yet into the US telecommunications industry, telling investors it plans to launch a Starlink mobile service for consumers, a step that could transform the satellite internet provider into a direct rival to wireless giants Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
The plans, disclosed during a recent investor roadshow ahead of a potential initial public offering, signal that Elon Musk’s privately held space company wants to move beyond providing broadband internet from orbit and become a full-service mobile operator, according to a Financial Times report on Friday.
If launched, the service would mark a significant expansion for Starlink, which has already become the world’s largest satellite broadband network with more than 10 million subscribers. It would also deepen competition in the US communications market, long dominated by a handful of traditional telecom companies that rely on extensive ground-based infrastructure.
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SpaceX already works with T-Mobile to provide direct-to-cell satellite connectivity that extends mobile coverage to remote and underserved areas. The new proposal goes much further by offering a retail mobile service under the Starlink brand, potentially allowing consumers to buy mobile plans directly from SpaceX rather than through an existing carrier.
