Starlink Mobile: SpaceX wants access to 80,000 towers. What’s confirmed and what isn’t

SpaceX wants to become a mobile carrier. According to a Bloomberg report from October 22, 2026, it is negotiating with tower owners for access to at least 80,000 ground sites in the U.S. to combine satellite coverage with a terrestrial network under the Starlink Mobile brand. Meanwhile, the three largest U.S. carriers are lobbying the regulator. What has been confirmed, and what is being exaggerated?

What Bloomberg Reports

The report does not say that SpaceX “will build 80,000 transmitters.” It refers to negotiations regarding access to existing sites—that is, leasing space on towers owned by other companies. Among the companies approached is one of the largest tower owners in the U.S. However, according to reports, no contract has been signed yet, and the company has not officially confirmed it.

What is the scale?

According to data from the Wireless Infrastructure Association cited in one report, 80,000 sites represent roughly half of the approximately 158,500 purpose-built towers in the U.S. last year. This would give SpaceX a dense ground network that it wouldn’t have to build from scratch.

Why a ground network when it has satellites?

According to reports, analysts view the purchase of low-frequency spectrum as a sign that SpaceX will use towers. Low frequencies travel farther, so fewer sites are needed to provide coverage. The combination of satellites and ground transmitters is intended to provide coverage even where the signal is weak, as well as higher capacity in more densely populated areas. It’s a logical combination, but the practical results won’t be clear until the system is launched.

Regulatory Landscape

• In early October 2026, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved 15,000 next-generation satellites for direct connection to mobile phones for Starlink Mobile.
• According to reports, the FCC waived the requirement for SpaceX to build a ground network and approved the purchase of three unused spectrum licenses.
• The CTIA, which represents the U.S. mobile industry, and representatives of the three largest carriers met with FCC staff on October 20. They requested that the 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz bands be excluded from the proposed rules for supplemental coverage from space. A vote on the rules is scheduled for the October 29 meeting, and the proposals may still change.

The claim that the carriers asked the FCC to block SpaceX’s entire plan is therefore an oversimplification. They are asking to restrict satellite services’ access to specific bands used by their 5G networks.

When Might This Happen?

According to an industry report, SpaceX aims to launch its own direct-to-smartphone service in early 2028, following the deployment of its second-generation constellation, which is expected next year. This is the company’s plan, not a binding deadline.

What this means for Europe and Slovakia

All the steps described pertain to the United States: U.S. spectrum, U.S. regulators, and U.S. towers. We found no information in our sources regarding when a similar service might become available in Europe, nor whether it would replace local carriers in Slovakia. The claim that “we won’t need operators or roaming” is therefore merely speculation. In general, national regulators would make the decisions in Europe regarding access to frequencies—this is our general observation, not a claim from the source.

What We Have Not Confirmed

• The construction of 80,000 of its own transmitters. Reports mention access to existing sites.
• A signed contract with tower owners. According to Bloomberg, negotiations are still ongoing.
• Pricing, rates, and a launch date in Europe. None of this is known.
• Resolution of all regulatory hurdles. Rules for supplemental coverage from space are set to be voted on October 29, and many questions remain unanswered.

Conclusion

According to available reports, SpaceX is attempting to build a mobile operator from three components: satellites, spectrum, and access to cell towers. The regulator has so far been accommodating, but traditional operators are resisting. For Slovak users, this is currently just a development to watch from abroad—not a plan that will affect their cell phone bills in the near future.