SpaceX just put every US carrier on notice - Entering consumer market to challenge AT&T and Verizon

The Street ^ | 6/26/26 | Tobi Opeyemi Amure

[srmanuel]

Ever since SpaceX announced that Starlink had partnered with T-Mobile to support direct cell phone to satellite communication, it seemed only a matter of time before SpaceX challenged existing carriers like AT&T and Verizon directly in the consumer cell phone service market.

Directly from the President of SpaceX - President Gwynne Shotwell told investors during a recent IPO roadshow that SpaceX could build its own terrestrial mobile network

Now an analysist is speculating that SpaceX could acquire T-Mobile instead of building it's on terrestrial network of cell towers.

https://www.investors.com/news/technology/spacex-stock-spcx-elon-musk-acquire-tmobile-wireless-firm/

If this turns out to be true, it would be a healthy thing for the mainstream telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon to face competition from the like of SpaceX.

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TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: elonmusk; gwynneshotwell; mobilephones; phoneservice; spacex; starlink; starship; tmobile

[Mathews]

Heck yeah!!! Now we’re talking!!!

[Waverunner]

I wonder who would be the spokesman...

[Waverunner]

Also, would the T now stand for Terran?

[lee martell]

My personal experience with T Mobile has been far less grand or dramatic. After 14 years of having my cell phone managed by T Mobile, we just got “a divorce”. I needed help with transferring an eSim to my new phone, plus a few other things. The first T Mobile person I spoke to was very helpful, then we lost connection and my old phone stopped working. The next day, I use a different phone to call back, but it seemed nobody wanted to help or didn’t know what to do. I was the Hot Potato or Monkey in the Middle, and kept being referred to a different phone number.
Finally, after the 5th referral, I just hung up and called AT&T, who had been managing my PC. I visited their store with my inoperable phone and left with it working.

[Paladin2]

I need a new hookup to the ‘net at the old compound, but will NOT go over $50/mo.

[mythenjoseph]

I would switch to X phone in a heartbeat. I think Elon Musks approach to labor and his logical approach to freedom and speech (X does not censor to an extent / no threats or call to violence is not allowed) is reason enough to support a new venture into the phone game. Money is no longer a thought to him ....so work and invest the currency so that a rising tide can lift every boat.

[Paladin2]

I’ve been having no shortage of issues with AT&T.

tHEY UNILATERALLY TERMINATED my DSL and I’ve been using a Verizon Hot Spot since. But it has issues where it is not really a permanent solution [Monthly Data, Battery can’t be always on charge, won’t work with battery removed, can’t be set to reboot periodically, poor connection at my location, etc.]

I’m pretty pissed with everybody who might be a supplier.

Not sure what to do.

[Paladin2]

My old compound is essentially in the forest with no clear view of the sky, so Musk won’t git er done....

[fella]

Just finished watching “Citizen Vigilanty” on X. It’s a call to arms.

[KingLudd]

“My old compound is essentially in the forest with no clear view of the sky ...”

Lucky duck.

[napscoordinator]

Would take a lot for me to dump Verizon. I’ve never had a single problem with them and to get a free upgrade every other year or so has been nice. even though this would probably benefit me financially because I own SpaceX stock, I think he needs to concentrate on what he has. First, take care of the Debt that he has.

[mewzilla]

My problem with T-Moble is that the plans I would be interested in have included Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV packages that I do NOT want.

[RebelTXRose]

Verizon turned off every service we had because I took a $200 credit before their system would allow it - 4 cellphones, internet, landline - while hubby was in surgery. 2 cycles to grant a credit that was their mistake in the first place.

We next went to ATT where all things kept creeping up in price.
We are quite happy with PureTalk n Brightspeed.

[chajin]

instead of building it's on terrestrial network of cell towers.

"it's on"?

I am a generally forgiving man when it comes to spelling, but a writer who can't edit something this obvious needs more training.

In the meantime, I was a Sprint customer when the Japanese bought out Sprint, and stayed when T-Mobile bought out Japanese Sprint. If Elon changes the letter T to X, I am content.

[srmanuel]

There’s always one

[napscoordinator]

I’m glad things are working better for you. I thought about pure talk at one point but I’m afraid to go with those small little companies for now. I’ll stay with Verizon. I do know the Verizon doesn’t work in every single spot in America.

[nonliberal]

Cool. Another company on paper that is losing money that Elon can get rich off of.

[Bobbyvotes]

Xfinity store setup transfer of esim to my new Google Pixel phone. So that was good. But my promotional price for Internet service had expired and Xfinity quietly jacked up monthly bill from $60 to $89! I was able to get another promotion for $65 locked in price for 5 years, with a nice lady from call center in India.

[Bobbyvotes]

If you had Elon’s brains for making money, you could have been rich as well. I wish I had Elon’s money making brain as well. But I admire him, not jealous of his Trillionaire status.