SpaceX Might Acquire More Spectrum for Starlink Mobile Via FCC Auction

March 27, 2026

SpaceX might try to acquire even more cellular spectrum as it moves to bulk up Starlink Mobile.

The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to sell licenses for the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) bands in a June auction, opening up more airways to mobile carriers and commercial companies. On Thursday, the FCC announced the application status for potential bidders, and Ookla analyst Mike Dano noticed that SpaceX is one of the 19 applicants.

However, SpaceX is also among the 14 parties that submitted an incomplete application, meaning it “must resubmit its application, having corrected any deficiencies,” the FCC says.

Other applicants include AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, which applied through a subsidiary called Cellco Partnership.

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SpaceX’s application suggests the company is eyeing the spectrum to incorporate into its satellite-to-phone service, Starlink Mobile, which is already available through T-Mobile. Last year, SpaceX reached a nearly $20 billion deal with Boost Mobile’s parent, EchoStar, to acquire a slice of radio spectrum that promises to give Starlink Mobile a drastic performance increase, offering 5G speeds to users on the ground.

At Mobile World Congress earlier this month, SpaceX emphasized partnering with mobile carriers to offer Starlink Mobile, rather than pushing it as a standalone, and potential rival cellular service. Still, SpaceX might be moving to dominate the satellite-to-phone market amid rumors that it’s still looking to buy Globalstar, the satellite services provider for Apple’s iPhone.

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Starlink Mobile

(Credit: MWC)

The FCC’s AWS-3 auction covers the 1695 to 1710MHz, 1755 to 1780MHz, and 2155 to 2180MHz bands meant for “low-power mobile transmit” and fixed services, according to the commission. “The AWS-3 frequencies will be licensed in five and ten megahertz blocks, with each license having a total bandwidth of five, ten, or twenty megahertz,” the regulator added.

Despite SpaceX’s application, Dano also tweeted: “Registering for an auction doesn’t mean they will bid. And even if they do bid, it doesn’t mean they’ll win anything.”