AT&T CEO John Stankey expressed skepticism about Elon Musk's Starlink mobile ambitions, stating that relying on a single carrier of low-band spectrum for mobile service is not a viable long-term strategy. Stankey highlighted AT&T's extensive investment in dense urban and suburban areas and its network performance as key advantages.
The comments highlight a potential competitive clash between established mobile carriers like AT&T and emerging satellite-based mobile services from companies like SpaceX, impacting future mobile connectivity strategies and investments.
AT&T CEO John Stankey voiced skepticism regarding Elon Musk's ambitions for Starlink to become a major US mobile carrier. Speaking on AT&T's third-quarter earnings call, Stankey stated that relying on a single carrier of low-band spectrum is not a strategy to "over-rotate" on, contrasting it with AT&T's extensive investments in dense urban and suburban areas and its network performance. This comes after SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell announced over 22 million monthly Starlink Mobile users and a recent agreement to acquire low-band transmission spectrum. Stankey acknowledged the utility of satellite internet for rural areas but emphasized the critical importance of indoor performance, particularly in crowded venues like stadiums and hospitals, areas where AT&T has focused on enhancing signal support.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.