America’s three largest mobile operators are pressing the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the country’s telecoms regulator, to slow down Starlink Mobile, the phone service SpaceX plans to build around its satellite internet constellation. The lobbying has surfaced as SpaceX seeks access to at least 80,000 US cell tower sites, according to reports published on 26 and 27 October 2026 by Notebookcheck and VOI.ID, the latter citing a Bloomberg report.
Key facts
- SpaceX is seeking access to at least 80,000 US cell tower locations, a figure VOI.ID says is roughly half of all mobile towers operating in the United States, based on industry numbers referred to by Reuters.
- Crown Castle, one of the largest US tower owners, is among the companies in talks, both outlets report.
- Crown Castle shares rose as much as 10% after the report, while AT&T and T-Mobile each closed nearly 8% lower, according to Notebookcheck.
- The FCC votes on 29 October on updating its direct-to-cell rules, which Notebookcheck says would open a further 482 MHz to satellites.
- CTIA, the US carrier lobby group whose members include Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, wants satellites kept off the 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz bands.
Why it matters
The incumbents are lobbying against a product that customers cannot yet price or locate. SpaceX’s chief financial officer has moved the US launch to the first half of 2028 rather than 2027, Notebookcheck reports, and the outlet says the company has published neither pricing nor a coverage map for Starlink Mobile.
That makes the 29 October vote and the tower negotiations the two things that will actually set Starlink availability in the United States: the spectrum decision determines what the satellites may transmit on, and the lease talks determine where the ground signal exists at all. Neither outlet reports a tariff, a launch market list or a service-level commitment. Until one appears, the published Starlink price for its existing satellite internet service is the only figure customers can hold the mobile plan against.
What the carriers are asking the FCC to do
CTIA’s filing does not name SpaceX, Notebookcheck notes, but the target is clear. Beyond the two band exclusions, the group argues for the right to approve and end spectrum leases, and wants satellite operators held to the same consumer protection standards as terrestrial carriers.
On regulator benchmarks, CTIA writes: “Critically, the Commission should revise the Draft 1675 MHz FNPRM to clarify that the performance metrics deemed appropriate for terrestrial providers should apply to satellite operators as well,” as quoted by Notebookcheck. The outlet adds that the big three have also launched their own satellite joint venture, and Verizon’s chief executive has promised to push back at Starlink Mobile.
The towers, and why SpaceX wants them
SpaceX is in talks with at least one major infrastructure company to reach the 80,000 figure, according to Notebookcheck, which says a terrestrial Starlink Mobile deployment deal could be worth billions.
The gap the towers would close is a geographic one. SpaceX had already said it would use home internet hardware, including the Starlink Standard Kit sold on Amazon, to emit mobile signals around customers’ installations, which Notebookcheck says fits the company’s earlier femtocell pitch. The catch, according to analysts cited by the outlet, is that those sites sit where subscribers live rather than where a network needs coverage.
VOI.ID describes the resulting architecture in layers: enhanced direct-to-cell satellites overhead, conventional macro towers for wide-area coverage, and smaller antennas to add density in cities.
Spectrum and satellites already in hand
The FCC cleared 15,000 direct-to-phone satellites on 6 October, Notebookcheck reports, and SpaceX agreed to buy 800 MHz of low-band spectrum from Grain Management, valued at about $8 billion. Low-band airwaves penetrate walls far better than satellite-friendly frequencies, the outlet says. VOI.ID reports that SpaceX has bought low-band and satellite spectrum from EchoStar, the US satellite and pay-TV group.
On the SpaceX earnings call, Elon Musk said the satellites and spectrum would make Starlink Mobile a “major mobile carrier,” according to Notebookcheck.
The sceptics’ case
T-Mobile’s chief financial officer reportedly estimated it would take around a billion femtocells to match macro tower coverage outdoors, Notebookcheck writes, and said such small cells struggle with walls and car glass.
VOI.ID stresses that the 80,000-site negotiations are still under way, so the national network cannot be treated as built or ready for use, and that the report it cites does not confirm when the network would operate or how far coverage would reach.
Background: the fourth carrier slot
Notebookcheck notes the fourth-carrier role was supposed to be filled by DISH, the US pay-TV and wireless operator, but that plan collapsed in 2025 when EchoStar sold its spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX. The US market has since been dominated by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, VOI.ID says, adding that new competition could widen options for customers facing coverage limits or poor service quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much could building the network cost?
Analysts at the financial firm TD Cowen estimate the project could cost more than US$80 billion, according to a Reuters report cited by VOI.ID. VOI.ID notes the figure reflects the scale of infrastructure SpaceX would have to build to enter the US national telecoms market.
Which companies own the cell towers SpaceX would need?
Notebookcheck names Crown Castle, American Tower and Vertical Bridge as among the largest tower owners in the United States. Crown Castle’s chief executive, named by VOI.ID as Chris Hillabrant, did not confirm details but said on the company’s latest results call that it was in rental discussions with all major satellite and telecoms players, including Amazon.
What is a femtocell?
VOI.ID describes a femtocell as a low-powered transmitter that can be installed indoors to improve mobile coverage, and says customers could potentially install one at home to fill coverage gaps.
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