SpaceX is in talks to buy Boost Mobile or secure access to its network, as Elon Musk looks to turn Starlink into a direct competitor to the major US mobile carriers, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The potential deal would give SpaceX a way to sell its own mobile service in the US. Neither SpaceX nor EchoStar, Boost Mobile’s parent company, responded to requests for comment.
According to the Post, Musk has been personally involved in the discussions and met EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month. Boost Mobile does not operate its own network of cell towers. Instead, it leases capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile.
That arrangement could complicate any agreement. SpaceX may need approval from both carriers to use Boost’s network, since mobile network leases typically cannot be transferred to another company without the carrier’s consent, the Post reported.
The talks fit into SpaceX’s broader plans for Starlink Mobile , a service that would combine satellite connectivity with ground-based equipment to compete with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
T-Mobile already offers SpaceX’s first satellite-to-phone service in the US, while SpaceX is also looking for cell sites across the country to host the equipment needed for its expansion.
The company has been increasingly clear about its ambitions. On SpaceX’s latest earnings call, chief financial officer Bret Johnsen said it wants to become a major mobile carrier in the US, Investing.com reported .
In October, SpaceX also agreed to buy low-band spectrum from investment firm Grain Management for around $8bn.
SpaceX already has a substantial relationship with EchoStar. In September 2025, the companies agreed to a deal worth about $17bn, combining cash and stock, for EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licences.
As part of that agreement, Boost Mobile customers were also expected to gain access to SpaceX’s planned satellite-to-phone service.
The market SpaceX wants to enter is worth an estimated $235bn in the US, according to research firm MoffettNathanson, cited by Investing.com.
EchoStar shares rose around 4% in early trading on Monday following news of the discussions, before US markets opened.
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