SpaceX is looking to buy Boost Mobile from EchoStar, according to a report from The Washington Post. If the deal goes through, it would help the Elon Musk-owned company build a hybrid cellular-satellite network that could help catapult it into fourth place among the top U.S. wireless providers.
The space-launch company has been dabbling in cellular connectivity, rolling out satellite access to T-Mobile’s subscribers in 2024. Last year, SpaceX bought $17 billion worth of wireless spectrum from EchoStar for cellular services, which could help the company’s Starlink service reach inside buildings, for example, something it currently struggles with.
“This is the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America,” Musk said on X at the time of the spectrum acquisition. Yet, if Musk is still looking to buy access to terrestrial networks, it apparently wasn’t the last piece.
Counter offer, nationalize Starlink and/or force Muskrat to sell it off to somebody who isn’t a complete piece of shit and then let them buy Boost Mobile. The last thing anyone needs is Musk any more deeply involved with telecoms or satellites, owning the launch platform should be enough.