Why can't T-Mobile cut off SpaceX gracefully?

By Anam Hamid · Senior News and Deals Writer

Published: Oct 25, 2026, 11:08 AM

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The partnership hasn't ended yet. | Image by PhoneArena

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Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

T-Mobile and SpaceX may be nearing the end of their business relationship, but that's no reason for T-Mobile to act as if it never happened. While the partnership is not ending this year, there's no love lost between the two.

T-Mobile keeps undermining SpaceX, while SpaceX is eager to roll out a network of its own. A fourth carrier would be of T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon's own making, though. SpaceX might have been content leasing capacity as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).

While T-Mobile and SpaceX haven't broken up yet, they aren't making any effort to hide their antipathy toward each other. SpaceX has openly threatened to steal customers from the major providers. T-Mobile is scrubbing away SpaceX's mention from its website.

Covering a geographic area is one thing. Delivering the speed, responsiveness, and capacity customers expect from a modern 5G-Advanced network is another.

John Saw, T-Mobile CTO, October 2026

T-Mobile is icing SpaceX out

That evening in 2022, when Elon Musk and former T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert launched direct-to-device (D2D) texting, seems so long ago. D2D tech now supports light data and is a paid add-on on T-Mobile's lower-tier plans.

By launching a joint venture with AT&T and Verizon, T-Mobile has signaled that it wants to support SpaceX's rivals. And while AST SpaceMobile and Amazon Leo could soon be competing with SpaceX, T-Mobile can't wait to distance itself from SpaceX.

The company no longer mentions Starlink on its main satellite landing page, though the branding lingers on the support and business pages.

We polled our readers about what T-Mobile might be thinking. The results were divided, with 48% of respondents seeing it as a sign of how scared T-Mobile was of the impending Starlink Mobile launch and 43% suspecting it might be in talks with a new partner. Only 9% believed that T-Mobile is trying to intimidate SpaceX.

What's T-Mobile thinking?

209 Votes

A frayed bond

With SpaceX purchasing spectrum and leasing tower space, it's only a matter of time before it becomes a rival to T-Mobile. It's no wonder that the relationship between the two has started deteriorating.

Still, it's a bit jarring to watch two (former?) allies who once submitted joint FCC filings turn on each other with such bad blood.

Then again, that's life business.

SpaceX is serious about launching its own network:

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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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