# SpaceX Is Reportedly Chasing 80,000 U.S. Cell Sites to Make Starlink a Rival to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile; Analysts Put the Cost Above $80 Billion

Fox's CyberGuy column says the talks are preliminary. SpaceX has not confirmed any tower deal, a launch date or pricing for a standalone phone service.

- Section: [Economy](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/economy/)
- Published: 2026-10-31
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/spacex-starlink-mobile-80000-cell-sites-crown-castle-grain-800-mhz-td-cowen-80-billion-verizon-att-t-mobile-fox-news/

SpaceX wants to turn Starlink into a nationwide cellphone carrier, and Fox News tech columnist Kurt Knutsson walks through what is and is not known.

The reported push. SpaceX is reportedly negotiating with cellular infrastructure companies for access to at least 80,000 sites. One company named is Crown Castle, which owns roughly 40,000 towers. On an Oct. 21 earnings call, CEO Chris Hillabrant was asked about leasing talks and said, "You can assume that we're talking to all parties," without naming customers. For scale, the Wireless Infrastructure Association counted about 158,500 purpose-built cell towers in 2025, though sites and towers are not the same thing, since one tower can host several networks.

The building blocks. On Oct. 8, Grain Management announced a deal to sell its nationwide 800 MHz spectrum to SpaceX, subject to FCC approval. SpaceX also received FCC authorization in October for a constellation of up to 15,000 direct-to-device satellites, though that does not mean they are flying. SpaceX says it expects to begin deploying next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027. It has also discussed adding small cellular base stations to equipment at customers' homes and businesses.

The market reaction. After the tower reports, shares of major wireless companies fell on Oct. 23, while infrastructure companies rose. TD Cowen analysts reportedly estimated a nationwide ground network could cost more than $80 billion and take years. SpaceX already works with T-Mobile through T-Satellite with Starlink.

What is not settled. There is no announced launch date, no pricing, and no public confirmation of agreements covering those 80,000 sites. Knutsson writes that more competition could mean better deals but that there is "no guarantee" Starlink will cost less than customers pay now.

Note for readers: this is a consumer technology column built on reports of talks, not an announcement from SpaceX.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/tech/elon-musk-starlink-could-be-your-next-cellphone-carrier)