Ever look at your cellphone bill and wonder why you’re paying so much when you still can’t get a decent signal? Maybe calls drop inside your house or your phone loses service during a road trip. It’s frustrating, especially when the big wireless companies keep promising better coverage.
Now, Elon Musk wants to give you another option. His company, SpaceX, is reportedly pursuing access to at least 80,000 cell sites across the United States. The goal is to turn Starlink into a major wireless carrier that could compete directly with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. If Musk pulls this off, the way you choose your cellphone service could change.
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AMAZON LEO SATELLITE INTERNET TAKES ON STARLINK
SpaceX is reportedly negotiating with major cellular infrastructure companies to secure access to at least 80,000 sites nationwide. One company reportedly involved is Crown Castle, which owns and operates roughly 40,000 cell towers across the country. During an Oct. 21 earnings call, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant was asked about potential leasing discussions with SpaceX and other satellite providers. His response was revealing. “You can assume that we’re talking to all parties,” he said, although he declined to discuss specific customers. That’s a significant development.
Cell towers provide the infrastructure that keeps our phones connected across the country. Wireless companies typically lease space on these towers rather than build every structure themselves. That approach helps them expand coverage without taking on the full cost of owning the infrastructure. For perspective, the Wireless Infrastructure Association counted about 158,500 purpose-built cell towers nationwide in 2025. SpaceX’s reported target of 80,000 cell sites would represent a substantial expansion, although cell sites and physical towers are not the same thing. A single tower can support equipment from multiple wireless networks, so the two figures are not directly comparable. Still, the reported discussions remain preliminary. SpaceX has not publicly confirmed agreements covering those 80,000 sites.
Here’s something you might be wondering. If Starlink already has satellites orbiting Earth, why does SpaceX need thousands of cell towers? The answer comes down to how wireless coverage works. Satellites can provide connectivity in remote areas where traditional cell towers are scarce. However, signals from space can struggle to reach phones inside buildings or in places with an obstructed view of the sky.
That’s where ground-based cellular networks come in. Traditional towers can provide stronger, more consistent service in areas where satellite connections face limitations. By combining both technologies, SpaceX hopes to create a network that keeps people connected across more locations.
There’s another interesting piece to the strategy. SpaceX has also discussed adding small cellular base stations to equipment installed at Starlink customers’ homes and businesses. Those stations could help provid
