SpaceX agrees to buy 800MHz spectrum for Starlink Mobile service

SpaceX has agreed to buy a nationwide block of 800MHz radio spectrum in the United States from Grain Management, a private investment firm, as it builds Starlink Mobile into a phone service that combines satellites with ground networks.

The companies announced the deal on 8 October 2026. It covers 14MHz of paired spectrum in the 800MHz band and needs approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Financial terms were not disclosed. Reuters reported a value of about USD 8 billion, a figure the companies have not confirmed.

Why low-band spectrum matters

Lower frequencies travel further and pass through walls more easily than higher ones. SpaceX said the new spectrum "will provide a coverage layer that ensures Starlink Mobile's signal penetrates through obstacles, such as walls, and can provide service to customers' devices even when they are in buildings."

The company said its global 2GHz spectrum will carry high-capacity traffic, while the 800MHz band will support indoor service. It said most existing mobile phones already support the band, and that with its second-generation satellites Starlink Mobile would be "the first network operator to deploy both satellite and terrestrial spectrum."

Background

Grain bought the spectrum from T-Mobile in a deal announced in early 2025 and completed in August for USD 2.9 billion in cash plus other spectrum licences. The announcement came a day after the FCC approved SpaceX to deploy 15,000 satellites for its Starlink Mobile direct-to-phone network, which is separate from the Starlink broadband constellation. In 2025 SpaceX also agreed to buy AWS-4 and H-block spectrum from EchoStar.

SpaceX has not announced a launch date, prices or coverage areas for Starlink Mobile. The plans cover the United States; no Starlink Mobile service has been announced for the Maldives.