SpaceX has expanded its already massive spectrum haul from EchoStar, announcing a new amended agreement that will see the company acquire EchoStar’s entire portfolio of unpaired AWS-3 licenses for roughly $2.6 billion in SpaceX stock, based on SpaceX’s September 2025 valuation.
The deal adds another major block of wireless airwaves to SpaceX’s growing library and marks a substantial expansion to the $17 billion spectrum agreement the companies reached just two months ago.
The AWS-3 licenses cover nationwide uplink airwaves that can support both mobile and satellite communications. When combined with the AWS-4 and H-block spectrum SpaceX is already acquiring from EchoStar, the company will have a rare, unified spectrum footprint capable of powering a fully integrated next-generation Starlink Direct-to-Cell (DTC) constellation.
A Spectrum Foundation for Starlink’s Mobile Future
SpaceX has long signaled that spectrum ownership is the key to delivering DTC services at global scale. While the company already partners with major carriers such as Rogers in Canada and T-Mobile in the U.S., dependence on terrestrial partners makes cross-border service complex. EchoStar’s spectrum—cleared for global operation—removes much of that friction.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previewed the roadmap in September, noting that SpaceX will need to launch a new generation of Starlink satellites equipped with S-band payloads to use the EchoStar airwaves. The company aims to begin deploying these satellites within two years, with the first handheld phone connectivity trials targeted for late 2026.
The direct-to-cell system is designed to support texting, calling, and basic data services without special hardware—just a standard smartphone with compatible radios. SpaceX has already been working with chipset makers to ensure the required modems will appear in next-generation smartphones.
Once regulatory approvals are complete, SpaceX will control one of the most comprehensive satellite-friendly mid-band spectrum portfolios ever assembled, setting the stage for a Starlink Direct-to-Cell network that could reshape global connectivity.
