Starlink reaffirms its ambition by acquiring terrestrial frequencies
Elon Musk wants to make Starlink more than just a satellite service for areas with poor coverage: SpaceX has announced that it has acquired 14 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band for Starlink Mobile, with the stated ambition of building ‘the world’s most advanced mobile network’ and becoming a‘major mobileoperator ’ in the… United States. The rationale is clear. Satellites have a clear advantage where terrestrial mobile masts struggle to keep up, particularly in rural or underserved areas. In cities, the picture is less rosy: indoor coverage, high usage density and physical obstacles seriously complicate the promise of a ubiquitous network. The gap The spectrum purchased by SpaceX is described as ‘ low -band’, meaning it is better suited to penetrating walls and improving coverage inside buildings. It…