T-Mobile CEO calls Starlink's satellite technology 'inferior'

Date:
Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:05:59 +0000

Description:
SpaceX will have to go it alone with Starlink Mobile, as the big three carriers have all turned down the idea of making it an MVNO.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter T-Mobile has rejected the idea of sharing its network with Starlink The company's CEO argues that satellite is an "inferior" technology to what T-Mobile currently uses Verizon and AT&T have also turned Starlink down For all its lofty ambitions, Starlink Mobile doesnt seem to be getting anywhere fast. SpaceX recently announced plans to build the worlds most advanced mobile network using its Starlink satellites, but satellites alone wont cut it the service also needs ground-based infrastructure and enough spectrum to power it, neither of which Starlink really has.

So its initial plan seemed to be to launch an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) by partnering with T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T and gaining access to their infrastructure. However, all three of those names have rejected SpaceXs proposition, with T-Mobiles CEO, Srini Gopalan, recently going so far as to say in an earnings call (via WCCFTech ) that "satellite is an inferior
version of FWA with even more constraints in terms of things like what is the size of the beam." Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: No
need for satellites (Image credit: SpaceX) FWA, or fixed wireless access, is what carriers often use to bring broadband to homes and other static
locations in rural areas, combining a router with a 5G or 4G signal, rather than using fibre optic cables.

FWA exists in urban areas too, but its particularly useful where conventional broadband struggles. So, essentially, Gopalan is arguing that satellite connectivity is a worse option, even in many rural and hard-to-reach areas, than FWA. You may like T-Mobile CEO challenges Elon Musk's claims about Starlink's mobile superiority AT&T CEO argues fiber is superior to Starlink's satellite-based phone plans SpaceX plans to turn Starlink into a 'major' US mobile carrier

On top of that, Gopalan claims that two-thirds of our FWA customers come from dense urban areas. We see huge growth opportunities in those areas still, all under the fallow capacity model. So we dont really see a synergistic opportunity with satellite providers.

All of which could be a big problem for SpaceX, as its likely the company
will have to rely primarily on its satellites for now. Though with its plans to launch 15,000 new satellites, lease 80,000 cell tower sites, and possibly install cellular base stations on existing Starlink dishes, it could still deliver a viable mobile network and a threat to the big three eventually. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/network-providers/t-mobile-ceo-rejects-potent ial-starlink-mobile-network-deal-arguing-that-satellite-is-inferior-and-theres -no-space-for-an-mvno-here


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