SpaceX reportedly seeks access to 80,000 US cell sites

SpaceX is reportedly planning to access at least 80,000 cell sites in an effort to compete directly with major US wireless carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Bloomberg reported that the company is currently in talks with Crown Castle Inc., one of the largest cell tower owners in the nation. If the deal proceeds as described, it would provide SpaceX with access to roughly half of the 158,500 cell towers currently operational in the United States, according to Reuters. During a Wednesday earnings call, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant addressed questions regarding potential partnerships with SpaceX, Amazon, or other satellite services. Hillabrant declined to confirm specific negotiations, stating, "I don't think I want to get into customer-specific detail." The reported move signals a direct entry by the satellite operator into the terrestrial mobile infrastructure market.