Spacex Explores Boost Mobile Deal For Us Wireless Service
SpaceX has reportedly discussed buying Boost Mobile or using its network, but access to the carriers that power Boost’s service could complicate any deal.
SpaceX has held talks with EchoStar about a potential deal involving Boost Mobile as it explores launching its own US wireless service, according to Engadget, TechCrunch and The Verge, all citing a report by The Washington Post. The discussions could lead to SpaceX buying Boost or gaining access to the network it uses. No deal has been confirmed.
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What the talks could involve
TechCrunch reports that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk spoke with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen in October about acquiring Boost Mobile. Engadget and The Verge describe a broader set of possibilities: an outright purchase or an arrangement that would let SpaceX offer a service through Boost’s existing network.
Boost does not operate its own cell towers. Instead, it leases network capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile, according to TechCrunch. That could make their approval necessary for a SpaceX service or acquisition. TechCrunch says sources cited by The Washington Post described such network leases as generally nontransferable.
Engadget and TechCrunch also report that Musk previously sought access to the networks of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon to launch a separate SpaceX service, but all three carriers turned him down. Neither SpaceX nor Boost Mobile immediately responded to The Verge’s request for comment.
Why Boost matters to SpaceX
SpaceX’s reported interest in Boost follows its efforts to expand Starlink from satellite connectivity into mobile service. TechCrunch says SpaceX began providing satellite access to T-Mobile subscribers in 2024. The Verge reports that SpaceX plans to combine its satellite-to-mobile system with a terrestrial network.
A Boost deal could give SpaceX a quicker route to existing wireless customers and cell-network coverage. EchoStar has about 7.5 million customers across Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile, according to TechCrunch. The outlet says access to terrestrial networks may be more valuable to SpaceX than the subscriber base itself: cell towers could serve devices where Starlink signals cannot reach, while satellites could provide outdoor coverage.
Unresolved questions
The reports give different figures for SpaceX’s spectrum purchases from EchoStar last year. Engadget puts the value of spectrum licenses it acquired at $2.6 billion, while TechCrunch reports a $17 billion purchase of wireless spectrum. The reports do not establish whether those figures refer to the same transaction. The Verge also reports a more recent purchase of low-band spectrum licenses that could help Starlink Mobile’s signal reach inside buildings.
For now, the proposed Boost arrangement remains a possibility rather than a confirmed transaction. Whether SpaceX buys the carrier or seeks network access, its ability to use the capacity Boost leases from AT&T and T-Mobile remains a central question.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.