SpaceX's cellular network feels much closer to reality than it did when initial rumors surfaced.
The major providers have gone from denial to accepting that SpaceX isn't going to back down from its goal. They are still downplaying the threat, saying SpaceX lacks the capital/experience/infrastructure, or that Starlink Mobile will simply take too long to get off the ground.
Deep down, though, they are apparently aware that SpaceX's Starlink Mobile could emerge as a formidable rival, one that may change the very definition of a telecom company.
Freaking out
Instead of upping their game, the legacy providers want to slow SpaceX down. | Image by Sawyer Merritt
Commentator Sawyer Merritt got a tip from an insider with ties to a lobbyist for one of the Big Three carriers. The companies are allegedly having a meltdown over SpaceX and the potential impact of its wireless unit.
The incumbents are dealing with this just as you'd imagine a triumvirate would: by colluding to slow SpaceX down.
Poll
1 Votes
What should the Big Three do instead?
Understandable
The telecom industry is fiercely competitive and operates on thin profit margins. That's apparently why the major providers avoid price wars. However, a fourth rival could upend the industry and lead to lower prices. While SpaceX's entry into the market looks inevitable, delaying its arrival could buy providers time build customer loyalty and develop a technological edge to neutralize the threat.
CEO Elon Musk expects the service to launch in the next two to three years, though others predict it might take a little longer. Another possibility that has been floated is that SpaceX is trying to drive down telecom stock prices so it can eventually buy one of the Big Three. Or he may still be fishing for an MVNO agreement with one of the legacy carriers.
Either way, even if SpaceX is moving fast, it could be a while before something concrete takes shape.
Not to be dismissed
SpaceX has a plan. | Image by SpaceX
While catching up to the Big Three might be challenging, SpaceX is certainly not buying spectrum, negotiating with tower companies, and eyeing EchoStar's assets for nothing.
Regardless of how you feel about Musk's politics, he has consistently proven critics wrong. I don't see why it would be different this time.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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