SpaceX agrees to buy nationwide low-band spectrum to challenge US wireless carriers

On October 8, 2026, SpaceX announced an agreement to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum portfolio from private-equity firm Grain Management. The portfolio consists of 800 MHz spectrum, which will enable Starlink Mobile's signals to penetrate obstacles like walls and tree cover. This acquisition positions SpaceX to challenge major U.S. wireless carriers. The deal is subject to FCC approval. Financial terms were not disclosed. Following the announcement, shares of T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T fell in extended trading. Additionally, the FCC approved Starlink Mobile's Gen2 constellation, allowing SpaceX to launch 15,000 satellites optimized for 2 GHz spectrum.