5 Telecom Stocks That Can Survive the Musk Threat—and 1 Reason to Buy SpaceX

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   SpaceX Cell Tower Talks Spark Telecom Stock Volatility

   SpaceX is engaged in negotiations to secure access to 80,000 cell sites for a wireless network, intensifying competitive pressure on major telecommunications companies. Shares of industry leaders AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile slipped following reports of the Starlink Mobile initiative. Analysts and chief executive officers note that building out these telecom ambitions will be difficult and take time, with Citi suggesting Starlink remains years away from directly competing with established carriers. Meanwhile, SpaceX also finalized a separate agreement to utilize Tristar's spectrum for direct-to-device capabilities.

   Why it matters

   The entry of SpaceX into the traditional cellular infrastructure space threatens the established dominance of legacy telecommunications providers. Market observers are reassessing long-term sector valuations as Starlink moves to integrate terrestrial tower access with its satellite constellation. While industry analysts debate how quickly these ambitions can materialize, the mere prospect of the expansion has introduced notable market volatility.

   What is confirmed

   • SpaceX is in talks to access 80,000 cell sites for a wireless network.
   • Shares of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile slipped following reports of the Starlink Mobile tower talks.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Starlink could move faster than anticipated to challenge major telecom operators despite warnings that the ambitions will be hard-won.

   What to watch next

   • Concrete announcements regarding lease agreements for the 80,000 cell sites
   • Further deployment timelines for Starlink Mobile direct-to-device services
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. Bloomberg.com — SpaceX in Talks to Access 80,000 Cell Sites for Wireless Network
   2. Morningstar — SpaceX Just Made Investing in Telecom Stocks Riskier. Here’s Morningstar’s Top Pick
   3. Reuters — SpaceX seeks access to 80,000 US cell sites for wireless network, Bloomberg News reports
   4. Forbes — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile Shares Slip As SpaceX Reportedly Holds Cell Tower Talks For Starlink Mobile
   5. Yahoo Finance — SpaceX reportedly wants to lease space on 80,000 cell towers in a bid to challenge Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
   6. Reuters — US telecom operators wobble after report SpaceX in talks for cell sites
   7. Barron's — 5 Telecom Stocks That Can Survive the Musk Threat—and 1 Reason to Buy SpaceX
   8. The Motley Fool — SpaceX Just Made Cell Towers Cool Again. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Are Paying the Price
   9. Light Reading — SpaceX clinches deal to use Tristar's spectrum for D2D
   10. Yahoo Finance — 'It's not something that gets done overnight': SpaceX's telecom ambitions will be hard-won, CEOs and analysts say
   11. Barron's — Starlink Is Years Away From Competing With AT&T and Verizon, Citi Says—but It Might Move Faster
   12. www.cerritosnewspaper.com — AT&T, T-Mobile, and More Telecom Stocks That Can Survive the ...
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