TechTECH TONIGHT
SpaceX Wants to Be Your Phone Carrier, Too
SpaceX agreed last week to buy a large block of low-band spectrum to expand Starlink, the first step toward becoming a carrier; your coverage may vary.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN TonightPublished
At a glance
- First reported by The Verge: “SpaceX’s ambitious, expensive gamble to replace AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon”, with reporting from ScienceDaily.
- Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10:08 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: International Space Station, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, SpaceX.
- BBN covered this story before: SpaceX's gamble to replace AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon (October 17).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSpaceX just agreed to buy a big chunk of low-band spectrum, and it says it wants to become a major wireless carrier, meaning a rival to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the rocket people want to be my phone company. I'm in. Look at this footage.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe same company just flew tiny brain models and three-D heart tissue to the space station.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt can grow organs in orbit, and you'd still lose signal in a parking garage.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe parking garage is the final boss.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's a carrier, Kenji. The whole job is two bars in your kitchen. I don't care about the retinas.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'll be on hold in space, and honestly the reception up there might be better.
The story so far
- NASA picture of the day: chasing the Space Station · NASA Science (.gov)
- SpaceX bets big on replacing your phone carrier · The Verge
- SpaceX delivers tiny brain models and heart tissue to the space… · ScienceDaily
- SpaceX's gamble to replace AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon · The Verge
- SpaceX Wants to Be Your Phone Carrier, Too (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 17, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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