In late 2025, SpaceX significantly expanded its Starlink capabilities by purchasing a massive amount of wireless spectrum from EchoStar for approximately $20 billion in cash and stock. This strategic acquisition, spanning multiple transactions in September and November 2025, enables SpaceX to enhance its direct-to-device satellite internet service independently.
SpaceX acquires $17 billion in wireless spectrum from EchoStar to expand Starlink's cellular service to regular phones without modifications. The deal allows SpaceX to eliminate mobile dead zones globally and relieves regulatory pressure on the struggling satellite TV provider.
SpaceX has bought $17 billion worth of satellite spectrum from debt-ridden operator EchoStar to enhance Starlink direct-to-cell phone performance.
SpaceX to pay $17 billion in wireless spectrum deal
Elon Musk's SpaceX has agreed to pay around $17 billion to buy wireless spectrum from EchoStar. Why it matters: This lets SpaceX offer direct-to-device Starlink services on its own frequencies rather than on those leased from others.
Elon Musk's $19 billion acquisition of DISH's spectrum is more than a financial move. It signals a strategic bet on the convergence of satellite and terrestrial wireless.
For Elon Musk, 42 primarily signifies a nod to Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, representing the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything," but also serves as a reminder to keep asking better questions about humanity's future, with SpaceX Starship's design incorporating it as a philosophical Easter egg. He uses it to link deep space exploration with existential inquiry, urging consciousness expansion to understand life's true meaning, beyond just the number.
June 7. In a morning interview with NBC News on June 7, Trump stated that he did not wish to reconcile with Musk, and added that Musk would face 'very serious consequences' if he funded Democrats. Trump also mentioned having saved Musk's life during his first administration.
Who owns NASA? NASA is not under the ownership of any private individual or entity; it is a federal agency of the United States government. Established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law on July 29, 1958, NASA is funded by taxpayer dollars.
This year SpaceX said it would buy wireless spectrum licences from satellite communication network provider EchoStar (SATS) for about $17 billion to support Starlink's expansion. The deal was 50-50 cash and SpaceX equity, which means EchoStar stands to win from a bumper IPO.
Elon Musk's IQ is not officially known, as he hasn't publicly taken a professionally administered test, but estimates vary widely, from around 100-110 (average) by biographer Seth Abramson to figures over 130 from reported SAT scores, with some unofficial online sources claiming scores as high as 155, although these latter figures are often debated and lack verifiable proof.
⚡️Elon Musk has stunned the public by revealing that every spacecraft launched in 2026 will carry the number #77 as a tribute to the late activist Charlie Kirk. Musk explained the significance, saying: “#77 is no longer just a number, but a legacy.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, lost $34 billion in net worth on Thursday after his company's stock plummeted in response to the online fight he got in with President Donald Trump.
As xAI is a private company, purchasing its stock is not available to everyone. To buy the stock of a private company like xAI, you must be an accredited investor. If you meet the accreditation criteria, you can register for Forge to buy private market stock on our secondary marketplace.
The USA is currently the No. 1 country in AI, thanks to foundation model breakthroughs, semiconductor dominance, enterprise AI maturity, and global research leadership.
The Starlink "2-month rule" means that users on a Mobile Regional plan can only use their service outside their registered home country for up to 60 consecutive days (two months) before they must update their service address to the new location or face service suspension, as the service is tied to specific authorized regions. This rule prevents long-term use in unapproved countries and applies to temporary international travel, requiring users to switch to the more expensive Mobile Global plan or change their address if staying longer.