SpaceX Acquires $17 Billion EchoStar Spectrum for Starlink Direct-to-Cell Service

SpaceX’s Gwynne Shotwell announced a major transaction with EchoStar on September 8, 2025, where SpaceX agreed to acquire 50 MHz of wireless spectrum and mobile satellite service spectrum licenses from EchoStar. The deal involves EchoStar selling its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses in …