Boost Mobile has 7.375 million wireless subscribers, and Elon Musk reportedly wants them. The Washington Post reported Monday that SpaceX is in talks to buy EchoStar’s Boost Mobile, or at least get access to its network. This SpaceX Boost Mobile push follows a rejection from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
Reuters relayed the report, but neither company has confirmed anything. So far, there is no price, no valuation, no timetable.
The Big Three Closed the Door on a SpaceX Wireless Carrier
According to the Post, Musk asked the heads of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to let SpaceX use their networks. All three declined. The paper cited nearly a dozen anonymous telecom-industry sources for that part of the story.
Why Boost, and Why Now
SpaceX already holds a big chunk of the puzzle. It bought roughly $17 billion in spectrum from EchoStar last year, and EchoStar took a minority stake in SpaceX as part of that deal. Musk called it on X “the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle” for phone coverage across America.
What he lacks is customers and a network that works on the ground. Boost has 7.375 million wireless subscribers as of June 30, mostly under the Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile brands. Meanwhile, Starlink has 13.6 million subscribers, up 90% from a year ago.
Put the two together and SpaceX could become the fourth-largest wireless provider in the country. That is the hybrid satellite-and-cell vision behind Starlink Mobile. For more on that plan, see how Starlink’s direct-to-cell push could reshape wireless.
The Catch in a SpaceX Boost Deal
Here’s the thing. Boost does not own most of its network. It rents from AT&T and T-Mobile, and those leases generally can’t pass to a new owner without the carriers’ permission.
The Post said SpaceX “may need consent.” New Street Research analyst David Barden called that a “gross understatement.” So the same companies that already turned Musk away may hold the final vote, which is awkward.
This is not a done deal, and “acquisition” overstates what is known. The talks reportedly cover buying Boost or only gaining network access. Verizon and EchoStar declined to comment to the Post. AT&T, T-Mobile, SpaceX and Musk did not respond.
What SpaceX Boost Mobile Means for Your Phone Bill
MoffettNathanson estimates the US wireless market at $235 billion, as the Post cited. A fourth big player with deep pockets and its own satellites could mean real pressure on prices. Even so, the plan could go nowhere if the incumbents hold the leverage.
Markets noticed. EchoStar shares rose about 3% to 4% on the news, and SpaceX stock ticked up nearly 2% pre-market. Still, nobody is pricing in certainty. SpaceX’s finances are also leaning on a few big buyers, as we reported in our look at SpaceX’s biggest customer.
So the question is simple: will AT&T and T-Mobile let a company they already rejected walk off with the keys to their own network?
