Starlink Weighs U.S. Mobile Network for 10.3 Million Users as AT&T, Verizon Face New Threat
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Jul 14
Starlink Weighs U.S. Mobile Network for 10.3 Million Users as AT&T, Verizon Face New Threat
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jul 14
Summary
10.3 million Starlink subscribers by March give SpaceX a larger base to extend beyond rural coverage if it builds a U.S. terrestrial mobile network.
That expansion would let Starlink compete more directly with AT&T and Verizon, whose shares have already weakened on fears of added pressure on margins and growth.
The plan still faces a costly hurdle: telecom buildouts are capital-intensive, and SpaceX is already spending heavily elsewhere, including $7.7 billion on AI capex last quarter versus $1.3 billion on connectivity.
For now, the threat looks more medium-term than immediate, with Starlink still small relative to incumbent carriers and SpaceX balancing telecom ambitions against its space and AI priorities.