SpaceX and Charter Communications are in discussions about a partnership to offer consumer mobile phone service. This would pair the world’s most valuable private company with the largest cable operator in the US.
The foundation for this move is SpaceX's Starlink direct-to-cell service, which connects standard smartphones to satellites. The company already has a partnership with T-Mobile for satellite coverage in areas without cell towers.
In September 2025, SpaceX acquired roughly $17 billion in spectrum licenses from EchoStar, giving it its own resources to build a mobile network.
Charter already operates Spectrum Mobile, a wireless service that resells capacity on another network. The company also has a partnership for satellite-based emergency messaging.
These discussions are happening as SpaceX prepares for an IPO. The company's documents outline a product called Starlink Mobile, targeting a $740 billion addressable market.