Why Elon Musk wants to sell you cell service

SpaceX's cheap, spectrum-driven path into wireless could seriously threaten Verizon, the most exposed and spectrum-poor incumbent.

• Spectrum shopping spree: SpaceX spent $20B on EchoStar spectrum plus $8B more last week for 800MHz 'Nextel' low-band spectrum once held by Grain Management, signaling a real terrestrial network build, not just satellite hype.
• Terrestrial network required: Piecyk says FCC approval terms and physics mean Starlink can't serve phones via satellite alone — it needs low-band spectrum and macro towers, likely leased from REITs like American Tower.

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