en.Wedoany.com Reported - SpaceX is considering launching a consumer-facing Starlink mobile service in the U.S. market, a move that, if realized, would directly compete with major operators in the largest market in the Americas.

The above information was disclosed by the Financial Times on Friday (26th). The report stated that SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell revealed during the company's initial public offering (IPO) roadshow that the company is studying the creation of a Starlink service for retail customers, with the project even including building its own terrestrial mobile network in the U.S. This strategic confidence stems from SpaceX's acquisition of EchoStar's spectrum licenses last year at an initial transaction valuation of approximately $17 billion. SpaceX has not commented on this news.

If the project materializes, SpaceX's role would no longer be limited to a technology partner for operators but would instead involve selling mobile connectivity services directly to consumers. Currently, Starlink has signed agreements with companies such as T-Mobile, which uses SpaceX's satellite infrastructure to supplement cellular coverage in remote areas through direct-to-device (D2D) technology. In March, SpaceX stated that it plans to accumulate over 25 million monthly active users of satellite-only mobile connections globally through partnerships by the end of 2026.

In the near term, Starlink Mobile primarily serves areas without terrestrial mobile network coverage; in the long term, the company may expand its service to rural, suburban, and even urban areas, aiming to become the preferred mobile connectivity provider for users regardless of their location. In Brazil, traditional operators have already expressed concerns about SpaceX and Starlink's dominance in the low Earth orbit satellite sector and hope to counterbalance this by developing viable LEO constellations and direct-to-device service alternatives.

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