SpaceX’s Starlink secures more spectrum and airlines as it passes 8 million customers

SpaceX is buying an additional $2.6 billion worth of wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar, expanding on the $17 billion agreement announced in September. The move underscores the company’s accelerating push to expand Starlink, its global satellite internet network, and bolster its “direct-to-cell” connectivity services.

The expanded spectrum acquisition comes just one day after SpaceX revealed that Starlink has surpassed 8 million global customers, up from 6 million in June.

Spectrum Boost for Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Network

According to people familiar with the deal, the newly acquired spectrum will power Starlink’s next-generation “direct to cell” constellation, a satellite system designed to connect directly with smartphones — starting with T-Mobile customers in the United States.

The direct-to-cell initiative aims to enable satellite-based 5G internet and introductory text and data services in areas with poor terrestrial coverage.

EchoStar, which previously held licenses for these frequencies, began divesting them after regulatory pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and direct intervention from the Trump administration, which reportedly urged the company to offload its holdings.

EchoStar’s Exit and Industry Impact

EchoStar’s sale of its spectrum to SpaceX in September effectively ended its own plans to build a direct-to-device satellite network, shifting momentum decisively toward Elon Musk’s Starlink.

However, SpaceX wasn’t the only buyer. In August 2025, AT&T acquired $23 billion worth of EchoStar spectrum licenses in a separate transaction.

These back-to-back sales mark a significant redistribution of U.S. satellite spectrum assets, consolidating them under companies leading the race to provide global 5G and satellite coverage.

Starlink Expands in Aviation

In addition to the spectrum deal, SpaceX secured a major commercial win on Thursday: International Airlines Group (IAG) — the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus — announced plans to install Starlink in-flight internet across more than 500 aircraft beginning in 2026.

The rollout will include short-haul, long-haul, and international routes, effectively covering every aircraft not slated for retirement, according to IAG’s press release.

Starlink’s presence in aviation has expanded rapidly since its initial entry in 2022. What began with private jets and regional carriers has evolved into a robust portfolio of commercial airline partnerships.

Among the latest to adopt Starlink service are United Airlines, which accelerated installation earlier this year, and Qatar Airways, which began outfitting wide-body aircraft in 2025.

Global Growth Continues

With these new partnerships and expanded spectrum access, Starlink’s subscriber base has surged to more than 8 million users across 150 countries — a 33% increase since mid-2025.

The additional spectrum and aviation partnerships position SpaceX to further solidify its position as a dominant global internet provider, with ambitions to extend satellite connectivity from remote islands to commercial airspace.