SpaceX has reportedly held discussions with EchoStar, the parent company of Boost Mobile, about entering the mobile carrier market. The talks could lead to SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or using its existing wireless network to launch a branded service, according to The Washington Post.
Boost Mobile’s network is leased from AT&T and T-Mobile, meaning a potential SpaceX service would likely depend on approval from those operators. The Washington Post also reported that AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have previously rejected requests from Elon Musk for network access to support a separate SpaceX service.
No agreement has been confirmed. However, discussions with EchoStar follow SpaceX’s recent dealings with the company. Last year, SpaceX acquired $2.6 billion worth of spectrum licenses from EchoStar to support improvements to Starlink’s 5G connections.
Starlink has also confirmed plans to become a major mobile carrier in the United States, while SpaceX has pursued another significant acquisition as part of that ambition.
Sources: Engadget.