This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
SpaceX wants to enter the cellular industry. | Image by PhoneArena
As anyone with a modicum of maturity knows, online commentary and memes are the best part of any major news story. That's not because they offer a great laugh (though that's a huge part of it), but because an innocent internet quip often captures burning sentiments a long, rambling op-ed simply can't. So, while there are plenty of arguments for and against SpaceX's plausible takeover of T-Mobile, the real catalyst boils down to just one thing:
Consumers aren't exactly smitten with T-Mobile's current management
We polled our readers on what Elon Musk should do, and received 4,610 responses. Of those, 2,015 (44%) want the world's richest man to purchase T-Mobile, while 1,737 (38%) would prefer he stay out of the telecom industry.
A mere 625 (14%) want SpaceX to stick with its stated goal of constructing its own network, and a tiny fraction suggested purchasing AT&T or Verizon.
What should Elon Musk do?
Reestablishing T-Mobile's former glory
Does T-Mobile need SpaceX to rescue it? | Image by Nick Adams
Author Nick Adams recently joked that Musk was going to make T-Mobile great again. The number-two carrier isn't exactly floundering, but it is definitely not the reigning favorite it was during its Un-carrier days.
Recommended For You
A SpaceX-owned T-Mobile (or maybe it would be rebranded StarMobile) might, at least initially, roll out customer-friendly policies, or at least revoke those that subscribers loathe.
Of course, if SpaceX finds its footing in the cellular industry, the typical corporate thirst for profit will inevitably take over. However, the takeover might still provide some respite to customers.
The real solution
SpaceX buying T-Mobile would keep the number of carriers at three and preserve the cozy triopoly that made the Big Three so brazen in the first place. Maintaining that kind of oligopolistic hold won't fix the industry's core issues.
With AT&T and Verizon having recently introduced more value-oriented options, and T-Mobilepossibly about to do the same, the triumvirate seems to have finally realized that the current model is unsustainable.
Ultimately, dismantling the structure that created this environment is what matters most. Data shows that the T-Mobile and Sprint merger is directly responsible for pushing bills higher for all customers. That's because markets with only three major mobile network operators tend to have higher monthly prices and gigabyte rates.
Get Visible as low as $20/mo for 1 year. Limited time offer with code: FRESHSTART
$20
/mo
$25
$5 off (20%)
Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.
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.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: