U.S. telecom operators moved lower in premarket trading, according to data from MSX.COM. The decline came after a report said SpaceX is seeking access to 80,000 cellular sites in the United States to build a wireless network. Among the stocks mentioned, AT&T fell 2.1%, Verizon dropped 2.5%, and T-Mobile posted the steepest decline at 3.5%. The move was reported by Odaily in a brief market update.
SpaceX has announced the acquisition of wireless spectrum and plans to offer mobile communication services through its Starlink satellite network, according to a ChainCatcher newsflash. The move could position the company as a major mobile carrier. Following the announcement, shares of Verizon Communications, AT&T and T-Mobile US all posted double-digit percentage declines on Friday. The source did not disclose further terms of the spectrum acquisition or a launch timeline for the service. The brief update framed the market reaction around the competitive threat posed by satellite-based mobile connectivity, with investors marking down incumbent U.S. telecom names after the SpaceX announcement.
SpaceX said it plans to acquire low-band spectrum licenses from investment firm Grain Management, a move aimed at turning Starlink into a major mobile communications provider in the United States. Elon Musk described the spectrum as the final key resource needed for full nationwide cellphone network coverage. If approved by the Federal Communications Commission, the company intends to combine its satellite-to-cell service with terrestrial networks. The deal centers on the 800 MHz band, which can penetrate buildings and support indoor connectivity, while also remaining compatible with most existing mobile devices. Financial terms were not disclosed. Investors quickly focused on the competitive implications for incumbent carriers. In after-hours trading, AT&T fell 7.3%, while T-Mobile and Verizon each dropped 6.6%. SpaceX, by contrast, rose 1.5% in after-hours trading. The announcement points to a broader strategy in which a satellite operator uses terrestrial spectrum to expand beyond satellite connectivity and into mainstream mobile service.
Goldman Sachs said in a Sept. 9 research note, cited by Chaoxiang Research and reported by TechFlow, that Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. The note said the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, while the starting prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were each lifted by $100 to $1,199 and $1,299. Goldman Sachs also said AT&T and T-Mobile are offering trade-in subsidies of up to $1,200, which could reduce the effective out-of-pocket cost of an iPhone 18 Pro to zero under eligible plans. The bank said a more premium product mix could support higher iPhone average selling prices and partly offset cost pressure. It kept a Buy rating on Apple with a $360 price target based on 37x forward earnings, while listing weaker consumer demand, supply-chain disruptions, tougher competition, and regulatory pressure as key risks.
TD Cowen analyst Gregory Williams said T-Mobile would be SpaceX’s clearest acquisition target if wholesale spectrum deals with major carriers fail, though financing, regulation and industry pushback remain major hurdles.
An arbitration panel found T-Mobile liable for multiple security failures that enabled a SIM swap attack leading to cryptocurrency theft. The carrier has already paid the full $33 million award.
