SpaceX reportedly seeks access to at least 80,000 US cell sites
Bloomberg says the company is discussing leases with Crown Castle as it pursues plans to sell mobile service directly to US consumers.
SpaceX is seeking at least 80,000 cell sites across the United States for a planned mobile network, Bloomberg reported on 22 October. Talks include tower owner Crown Castle, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg, which said potential agreements could be worth billions of dollars.
The arrangements could help SpaceX become a fourth nationwide carrier alongside AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. SpaceX has said it intends to offer phone service directly to US consumers and has agreed to purchase nationwide low-band 800 MHz spectrum.
On Crown Castle’s 21 October earnings call, chief executive Chris Hillabrant declined to discuss individual customers when asked about satellite companies, including SpaceX and Amazon. He said the tower operator was speaking with all parties.
Hillabrant said SpaceX could generate tower leases itself while prompting established carriers to invest more in their networks. He also noted that Dish had put equipment on more than 12,000 Crown Castle sites before abandoning its network. Those locations had already cleared zoning and permitting.
The plans also include satellite connections. Bloomberg reported that the FCC had approved 15,000 SpaceX satellites built to link directly with phones. Elon Musk has said SpaceX will develop terrestrial networks wherever SpaceX and Starlink are permitted to operate.
The scale remains contested. Ken Schmidt, president of cell-lease tracking firm Steel In The Air, questioned why SpaceX would require 80,000 sites alongside its satellite service. Separately, Reuters reported that TD Cowen analysts estimated a nationwide terrestrial network would require more than US$80 billion and years of construction.
