SpaceX Sends Telecom Providers a Shot Across the Bow -- WSJ

By Micah Maidenberg

SpaceX is coming for large U.S. telecom providers.

During the company's first earnings call, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell referenced the revenue that AT&T, Verizon Communications and T-Mobile US pull in, and said Starlink would take aim at their subscribers.

"I anticipate us to be able to acquire quite a few of their customers because I think our service will be better," Shotwell said.

Telecom and satellite-industry executives and analysts have been debating the threat that SpaceX might pose to incumbent mobile providers.

Shotwell said SpaceX could expand mobile service by deploying cellular base stations essentially on the Starlink broadband dishes. That way, the network could use connections from ground equipment and Starlink satellites.

"You deploy that as you need it," she said.

Shares of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile were lower in after-hours trading.

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August 04, 2026 19:12 ET (23:12 GMT)