# Elon Musk moves into telecommunications with a multibillion-dollar investment in Starlink's mobile operation

The advance of Direct-to-Cell technology with the Starlink constellation challenges traditional carriers and promises to eliminate dead zones across the United States.

- Section: Future
- Published: October 19, 2026
- Address: https://ceoone.com.br/en/article/elon-musk-moves-into-telecommunications-with-a-multibillion-dollar
- Em português: https://ceoone.com.br/artigo/elon-musk-avanca-no-setor-de-telecomunicacoes-com-aporte-bilionario-na.md

![A satellite internet dish mounted on a rock, among trees](https://pub-b80e49b2737940b3ab5d3f20d0578192.r2.dev/artigos/elon-musk-avanca-no-setor-de-telecomunicacoes-com-aporte-bilionario-na-foto.webp)

Photo: Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash

## Key points

- SpaceX directed about US$ 8 billion, close to R$ 40 billion, to Starlink's direct-to-satellite mobile service in the United States.
- Direct-to-Cell technology connects ordinary phones to the satellites; the launch partnership is with T-Mobile, for voice, messaging and data.
- According to Musk, the V2 satellites will have more than 100 times the bandwidth per satellite of previous systems; AT&T and Verizon are seeking partnerships with other constellations.

SpaceX has taken a historic step in expanding its telecommunications empire by directing about R$ 40 billion (roughly US$ 8 billion) to consolidating its direct-to-satellite mobile phone infrastructure in the United States. The initiative leverages the Direct-to-Cell technology developed by the Starlink division, allowing ordinary smartphones from global brands to connect directly to the company's low-orbit satellite network. The move turns Elon Musk's company into a disruptive player in telecommunications, drastically reducing reliance on traditional ground antennas and towers.

The strategy is gaining commercial traction through heavyweight strategic partnerships, led by the deployment agreement with US giant T-Mobile. Initially designed to cover geographic dead zones, deserts and rural areas beyond the reach of terrestrial cell signals, the service has expanded its scope to include voice calls, text messaging and broadband data. Highlighting the technological leap of the new orbital generation, Elon Musk underscored the project's ambition: "The Starlink Mobile (direct-to-cell) V2 satellites are incredible. This SpaceX constellation will bring more than 100 times the bandwidth per satellite compared with our previous systems, which will make it possible to eliminate dead zones worldwide completely."

To make the operation viable at gigawatt scale, SpaceX stepped up the pace of launches of second-generation Starlink satellites, equipped with advanced radio-frequency modems that work as true cell towers in space. Regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and access to strategic frequency spectrum were decisive milestones for the technology's commercial authorization. Market analysts say the capital aims to accelerate the mass production of these satellites and cover the high operating costs of the reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

The investment's economic impact resonates strongly among telecom executives and global investors. SpaceX's entry into mobile telephony puts pressure on the business model of traditional carriers such as AT&T and Verizon, forcing the market to speed up partnerships with competing satellite constellations to avoid losing corporate and government customers. The recurring revenue generated by the satellite mobile division is expected to become one of the main sources of cash flow to fund the company's deep space exploration projects, including the Starship program.

Beyond the direct benefits for consumers and businesses, the technology has major tactical and crisis-management implications. During severe weather, natural disasters or structural failures in terrestrial power networks, the decentralized satellite architecture ensures operational continuity for emergency services, governments and logistics companies. This systemic resilience turns the service into a critical infrastructure asset for the US economy and sets the model to be replicated on other continents.

With this multibillion-dollar investment, SpaceX reaffirms its leadership at the convergence of the aerospace industry and the global mobile connectivity market. By turning Earth's orbit into a direct extension of cell networks, the company is redrawing the boundaries of telecommunications and showing how capital-intensive innovation can reshape established markets on a global scale.

## Sources and editorial notes

- Reference reporting: Exame, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, TechCrunch, official statements by the executive.

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