Verizon's issues predate this new threat. Starlink Mobile will only exacerbate its problems.
Hasn't Verizon been doing well under the new CEO?
While Dan Schulman appears to have mostly righted the ship, Verizon is just coasting instead of thriving. The company's organic revenue growth is negative, and it has curtailed infrastructure investment. Debt is soaring, but the company is still dutifully paying up to $12 billion in dividends every year.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is sparing no expense to build a global satellite constellation. Since Verizon has the most wireless subscribers, it's in a precarious position even if the Big Three lose subscribers to SpaceX proportionally. Its rural dominance has also turned into a weak point, as SpaceX's hybrid network is likely to perform better in rural markets than urban areas.
We asked our readers why they thought Starlink Mobile posed the greatest risk to Verizon. 51% of the 349 respondents attributed it to Verizon's losing its spirit. 25.21% didn't think much of the perceived threat, while 23.5% blamed it on Verizon's pursuit of legacy tech instead of innovative solutions.
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Why is Verizon the most vulnerable to Starlink Mobile?
357 Votes
SpaceX renews commitment to building a network
Every time SpaceX talks about building a carrier, many industry observers shrug off the plans as either impractical or a bluff to win an MVNO deal. After all, SpaceX doesn't have nearly enough spectrum to provide service across the US, and satellite signals get too weak by the time they reach Earth to provide connectivity on par with traditional carriers.
During its Q3 earnings call, SpaceX again vowed to make Starlink Mobile a major mobile carrier. From purchasing low-band spectrum to deploying 15,000 V2 satellites, SpaceX is certainly laying the groundwork.
Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen revealed plans to ramp up launches of the next-gen V2 satellites using Starship starting next year. The new Starship rocket will enable more frequent launches, allowing the company to put more satellites in orbit and enhance capacity and service quality.
And also, we talked last quarter at the last earnings call about smaller kind of not quite tower capable, but smaller radios that we would -- we could put on already installed homes for Starlink, businesses for Starlink, towers as well. So it's not just the spectrum that we've talked about with the S-band. We will basically leverage the real estate from Starlink installs and other towers.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President, October 2026
President Gwynne Shotwell reiterated plans to put small radios on Starlink dishes, claiming that between 85% and 93% of mobile connectivity is carried over Wi-Fi. The company expects the S-band spectrum to do the heavy lifting, and the 800 megahertz spectrum to fill the gaps.
I think it's something between 85% and 93% is done through WiFi. And keep in mind, Starlink Broadband does a lot of WiFi work as well. As far as the mix goes, I think we expect that the S-band spectrum will provide the majority. And then obviously, you need the low-band spectrum, the 800 megahertz spectrum to basically penetrate buildings. So if you're not on WiFi, you can still receive the signal.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President, October 2026
Not putting the Big Three out of business
SpaceX isn't going to replicate the Big Three. | Image by Stefan Pongratz
Given the limits of satellites and SpaceX's novel approach, Starlink Mobile is unlikely to decimate AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Research firm Strand Consult doesn't think SpaceX has a shot in dense cities, where traditional carriers have 1,000 times as much capacity per square kilometer as a satellite operator. With V2 satellites, SpaceX might be able to reduce the gap to 10 to 55 times. In sparsely populated rural areas, SpaceX's hybrid approach may be more economical than the conventional way.
Dell'Oro Group's Vice President Stefan Pongratz believes SpaceX could maximize returns by targeting ground buildout in urban areas and key markets where the revenue opportunity would be the greatest.
Why would Verizon users care?
Verizon remains the most expensive carrier. While it's no longer bleeding customers like last year, Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) and postpaid service revenue both went down in Q2. The company also no longer holds the network advantage that once drove customers to it.
If SpaceX enters the market, it will likely compete aggressively on price, at least at first. That would be a good enough reason for many Verizon customers to leave it for Starlink Mobile.
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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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