SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are considering acquiring an 800 MHz spectrum license held by Grain Management, which is seeking about $6 billion after completing a spectrum swap with T-Mobile US. Grain may also lease the license, which covers most of the U.S. population and could help satellite operators build terrestrial networks. SpaceX is targeting mobile service as early as the end of next year and plans to expand Starlink beyond its current carrier-dependent direct-to-device model. The company has secured spectrum rights from EchoStar, initially covering 50 MHz and later expanding to as much as 65 MHz, while AST SpaceMobile is pursuing a carrier-partnership model with companies including AT&T and Verizon. The potential transaction could intensify competition with U.S. mobile carriers, although analysts say pricing and infrastructure costs may limit Starlink’s ability to replace terrestrial networks. Regulatory support for direct-to-device services has advanced, but spectrum sharing and interference remain concerns.