"SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell responded on X: "Weeeelllll, I guess Starlink Mobile is doing something right! It's David and Goliath (X3) all over again - I'm bettin' on David." SpaceX's VP of Satellite Policy David Goldman went further, flagging potential antitrust concerns and asking whether the DOJ would even allow three dominant competitors to coordinate in a market where a new rival is actively entering."
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon agreed in principle to form a joint venture that pools spectrum resources to expand satellite-based direct-to-device connectivity across the United States. Direct-to-device technology enables standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites in orbit without extra hardware, similar to connecting to a cell tower. The move is seen as a response to SpaceX’s Starlink initiative and aims to slow Starlink’s expansion in satellite internet and mobile markets. Starlink Mobile launched commercially in July 2025 through a partnership with T-Mobile, beginning with messaging and later expanding to broadband data. SpaceX gained valuable wireless spectrum through a $17 billion deal with EchoStar to enable faster satellite-to-phone speeds. SpaceX leadership criticized the carriers’ coordination and raised potential antitrust concerns.
Read at TESLARATI
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