SpaceX may look beyond satellites for its next mobile growth move. Analysts now see the 600MHz band as a possible path. The band could support a terrestrial network that complements Starlink’s direct-to-device ambitions.
The company already moved toward low-band spectrum through Grain Management. That deal covers key 800MHz assets. SpaceX called that spectrum its ticket to becoming a “major mobile carrier.”
However, building a nationwide mobile network remains a huge challenge. SpaceX needs more spectrum, more sites, and device support. It also needs time. Without major MVNO deals, the company must create more of its own coverage.
New Street Research says Comcast and Bluewater Wireless could offer useful 600MHz assets. Low-band spectrum travels farther and penetrates buildings better. That matters for mobile coverage, especially outside dense urban zones.
Yet the path looks complicated. T-Mobile already leases some Comcast 600MHz spectrum. It also has a deal to buy some, or possibly all, of those holdings. Comcast still has room to exit part of that optional sale.
New Street Research explained the timing issue clearly. “The interesting bit is that Comcast can pull out of the Optional Sale by sending TMUS a lease-termination notice. Its no-shop for the optional licenses lapsed in March 2024. No closing is permitted before month 54 of the lease (~April 2028) with an outside date of April 12, 2029,”
That means a buyer would not get clean spectrum immediately. It would inherit a transition period with T-Mobile. This could slow deployment and create negotiation pressure.
Bluewater brings another challenge. It holds 66 unbuilt licenses in the band. The company faces a July 2028 FCC deadline. Any buyer must build quickly or seek regulatory relief.
Still, the spectrum could help in several markets. New Street sees added depth in Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, and Denver. At the same time, gaps remain in Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, and St. Louis.
The move could also strengthen SpaceX’s hand in MVNO talks. Mobile network operators may respond differently if SpaceX owns more usable spectrum. AT&T and Verizon may also watch closely.
New Street summed up the strategic value this way. “Our read is this could be a sensible bolt-on if SpaceX is serious about terrestrial, and a ‘cheap’ signaling device if the real goal is an MVNO. Either way, the two dates to watch are the remaining Comcast FCC filings (each one shuts the door on callable licenses) and Bluewater’s July 3, 2028 deadline,”
John Strand, CEO of Strand Consult, sees several possible motives. SpaceX’s spectrum pursuits “may be valuable for an owned terrestrial coverage layer, as leverage in wholesale negotiations, or to support satellite connectivity where permitted,” he said.
For telecom watchers, the 600MHz question now carries real weight. SpaceX may want a mobile network. Or it may want better bargaining power. Either way, spectrum remains central to its plan.
