SpaceX is also weighing a ground-network buildout for mobile service, highlighting broader ambitions beyond any satellite-backed partnership with Charter Communications.
Charter Communications executives have discussed a potential partnership with SpaceX involving mobile services, but BNP Paribas said the idea in its current form is far from being a viable substitute for the three biggest U.S. wireless carriers. SpaceX is also weighing a broader push into telecoms through Starlink, with SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell telling investors earlier this year that the company could potentially build out a terrestrial network to provide mobile service, according to people familiar with the matter. The developments suggest satellite-backed connectivity may widen coverage and support new offerings, but still faces major hurdles in matching the scale and capabilities of established nationwide operators.