SpaceX is seeking to acquire Boost Mobile from EchoStar as it develops a hybrid cellular-satellite network that could expand Starlink’s U.S. phone coverage. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, reportedly spoke with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen in October about the deal. Boost Mobile and GenMobile together have about 7.5 million customers, and Boost covers most of the 48 contiguous states while leasing capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile. Sources told The Washington Post that such leases are usually nontransferable, potentially requiring carrier approval. SpaceX has approached AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon about network capacity, but all three rejected the requests. The company began providing satellite connectivity to T-Mobile subscribers in 2024 and bought $17 billion of wireless spectrum from EchoStar last year. It has also agreed to buy nationwide low-band spectrum licenses for $8 billion, subject to Federal Communications Commission approval, with closing expected in the first half of 2027. SpaceX shares traded at $140.02, up 4% in early action on November 2, while EchoStar rose 1% to $98.08; AST SpaceMobile fell 4% to $39.33 and Rocket Lab declined 1% to $54.05. SpaceX reported more than 13.6 million Starlink consumer subscribers worldwide, while New Street Research estimates about 4 million U.S. broadband customers. The potential Boost transaction would provide immediate subscribers and access to terrestrial networks, helping Starlink serve outdoor devices while cellular towers cover locations where satellite signals cannot reach, including indoors and in dense cities.