SpaceX has agreed to buy a nationwide low-band wireless spectrum portfolio from investment firm Grain Management, moving closer to becoming a mobile carrier. The Wall Street Journal reported the deal is worth about $8 billion in cash, though the companies did not confirm the figure. The 800 MHz spectrum will let Starlink Mobile’s signal pass through walls and reach indoors, a key gap for satellite-based mobile service.

The deal needs Federal Communications Commission approval. SpaceX shares rose 3 to 4% on the news, while T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T each fell more than 5%. CEO Elon Musk called the move a very big deal. The FCC earlier approved SpaceX launching up to 15,000 more satellites for its mobile service.

By pairing low-band airwaves with its satellite network, SpaceX aims to challenge the big US wireless carriers directly. Grain Management had acquired the spectrum portfolio from T-Mobile in August 2026. SpaceX has offered basic wireless connections in remote areas through a T-Mobile partnership for over a year and has been upgrading its Starlink Mobile network with newer satellites.