Source: Stratechery by Ben Thompson
SpaceX is acquiring spectrum licenses to expand Starlink's mobile capabilities. Traditional cellular carriers have spent decades defending their spectrum monopolies against new entrants. SpaceX has the capital, infrastructure, and regulatory tolerance to challenge that model by offering global connectivity where terrestrial networks cannot. If Starlink mobile reaches scale, it doesn't need to beat Verizon everywhere—winning niche use cases like maritime, rural, and aviation operations would force carriers into a permanent defensive posture on price and service.