SpaceX Buys US Spectrum for Starlink Mobile Push

SpaceX has agreed to buy a nationwide US portfolio of up to 14MHz of paired 800MHz spectrum from investment firm Grain Management, in a move designed to support its planned Starlink Mobile network.

The agreement, announced on 8 October, remains subject to final approval from the US Federal Communications Commission and other closing conditions. SpaceX said the low-band spectrum would give its network a coverage layer better able to reach phones indoors and through obstacles such as walls.

A step towards a SpaceX-run mobile network

Starlink Mobile is intended to combine SpaceX’s satellites with terrestrial network infrastructure. The company says the new 800MHz holdings would sit alongside its global 2GHz mid-band spectrum, which it describes as the higher-capacity part of the network.

“This prime low-band spectrum addresses one of the key remaining technical gaps that will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the US.”

SpaceX said most existing mobile devices already support the 800MHz band, although it has not published a definitive handset compatibility list or a launch date for a standalone US Starlink Mobile service.

Axios reported on 9 October that the transaction was worth about $8 billion, citing the Wall Street Journal. SpaceX and Grain Management have not disclosed the price or payment structure.

Different from Starlink’s existing phone partnerships

Starlink’s Direct to Cell service has generally used spectrum supplied by mobile-network partners, including T-Mobile in the US and One NZ in New Zealand. The new arrangement would give SpaceX its own US spectrum holdings, alongside its satellite network and planned ground infrastructure.

The purchase follows FCC approval on 6 October for a separate SpaceX direct-to-device system using up to 15,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites. That authorisation was granted in part, with some requests deferred.

What it means in the UK

This is a US spectrum deal, so it does not mean a new Starlink mobile plan, SpaceX handset or UK network is on the way. UK availability and pricing for a standalone Starlink Mobile service have not been confirmed.

British customers already have a Starlink-powered phone connectivity option through O2 Satellite, switched on by Virgin Media O2 in February 2026. That service uses Starlink Direct to Cell with O2’s licensed spectrum, not the 800MHz licences SpaceX is buying in the US.

At launch, O2 Satellite cost £3 per month for O2 Pay Monthly customers, while Ultimate Plan customers were due to receive it at no extra cost. It initially supported selected messaging and data apps on compatible Samsung Galaxy S25 models.

For consumers, SpaceX’s purchase is chiefly a sign of how seriously satellite firms are pursuing conventional mobile coverage. The competitive effect may eventually reach beyond America, but there is no confirmed change for UK mobile buyers today.