Catenaa, Tuesday, November 11, 2025- EchoStar has agreed to sell its AWS-3 uplink spectrum to SpaceX, continuing a series of multi-billion-dollar transactions that reshape US telecom frequencies.
The nationwide licenses, covering the 1695-1710 MHz band, will be transferred pending regulatory approval.
EchoStar did not disclose financial terms, but the deal follows prior sales of AWS-4, H-block, 600 MHz, and 3.45 GHz spectrum to SpaceX and AT&T.
The move comes after EchoStar’s recent $23 billion transaction with AT&T and a $17 billion spectrum sale to SpaceX, which resolved Federal Communications Commission concerns over underused airwaves.
EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan said the sale strengthens the company’s ability to pursue new business opportunities and shareholder value.
SpaceX plans to integrate the AWS-3 spectrum with its existing holdings, including AWS-4 and H-block licenses, to expand direct-to-cell service offerings worldwide.
The company aims to deliver Starlink direct-to-cell services through Boost Mobile and potentially other consumer and enterprise channels.
Analysts suggest that Spectrum ownership could position SpaceX to become a fourth mobile network operator in the U.S., although such a move remains speculative.
EchoStar’s AWS-3 licenses had previously attracted interest from Verizon, but reports indicate that the frequencies involved in the SpaceX transaction differ from those Verizon targeted.
Industry observers note that combining satellite launch capabilities with uplink spectrum could accelerate cost-effective mobile connectivity, marking a step forward in SpaceX’s broader telecommunications ambitions.
The sale underscores ongoing consolidation and strategic repositioning in US wireless infrastructure, as companies balance regulatory compliance, spectrum utilization, and competition in mobile and satellite services.
EchoStar sells AWS-3 spectrum to SpaceX, expanding Starlink’s direct-to-cell ambitions and fueling speculation on a new US mobile network entrant.
