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- Amazon Could Buy Viasat As AST SpaceMobile Tries Rival Bid, Satellite Consultant Says: Musk-Bezos ‘Cage Fight’ Looms
Satellite consultant Tim Farrar said Amazon could soon announce an acquisition of Viasat, mainly for its international spectrum and to combine Viasat's Ka-band GEO business with Amazon Leo, strengthening Amazon's position in government and aviation. AST SpaceMobile has reportedly tried to assemble a rival bid, but it would need significant telco support and would likely face opposition from Viasat management, and Farrar did not disclose a deal value. The speculation follows FCC approval of Amazon's $11.5 billion Globalstar acquisition, expected to close in 2027, which gives Amazon 25 megahertz of mobile-satellite spectrum. Farrar also flagged risks in AST's tense relationship with Ligado and suggested SpaceX could pursue a stock-based deal for EchoStar's remaining business. Year to date, AMZN shares are up 10%, ASTS has fallen 42%, and VSAT has surged 127%.
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Just Gave Telecoms Some Great News
- Nearly 13% of SpaceX's $4.4 Billion Profit Came From This "Boring" Investment
SpaceX reported third-quarter revenue up 161% year on year to $14.6 billion and net income of $4.4 billion. Of that, $561 million was an unrealized gain on its stake in The Boring Company, a Musk-controlled firm, after the company raised $3 billion at a valuation of about $20 billion; the gain equals about 12.7% of net income but brought in no cash. The article argues that net income can overstate underlying performance and that operating income is the more useful measure, which came in at $2.8 billion versus a $273 million operating loss a year earlier. Capex reached $19.6 billion in the quarter, and CFO Bret Johnsen guided to $35–40 billion for the fourth quarter, mainly for AI infrastructure, Starship and satellites. SpaceX also agreed to acquire 800 MHz wireless spectrum from Grain Management, which could help Starlink expand into cellular connectivity.
- Is Elon Musk Coming for Verizon?
A Motley Fool Hidden Gems podcast discusses SpaceX's wireless ambitions after a reported spectrum acquisition sent Verizon stock down about 10%. One host says his current service was about eight times faster than SpaceX's $55 offering, and doubts many users would accept the slower speeds and higher latency of satellite connections. The guests note the spectrum suits terrestrial networks better than satellites, that building one could cost 10 billion or more, and that mobile carriers are valued at less than two times sales. With roughly 11,000 satellites in orbit and an estimated 40,000 users per newer satellite, Starlink could theoretically serve hundreds of millions, but speed and capital expenditure remain open questions.
- SpaceX Is Buying Airwaves to Take On the Wireless Carriers. Is the Stock a Buy?
On October 8, SpaceX agreed to buy Grain Management's nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to help its Starlink Mobile service reach phones indoors; terms were not disclosed, though The Wall Street Journal put the price at about $8 billion in cash. Shares of T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T each fell over 10% the next day, while SpaceX stock barely moved and trades near $146, about 31% below its record $211.39 close on June 16. In the second quarter, SpaceX's connectivity segment, which houses Starlink, posted revenue of $4.3 billion, up 66% year over year, and was the only segment with an operating profit; the Grain purchase still needs FCC approval. At a valuation of about $2 trillion, the $8 billion is under 1% of that, but trailing four-quarter revenue of about $23 billion leaves the stock above 80 times sales, and the company lost $4.8 billion in the first half of 2026. The author considers the stock still too pricey, noting that revenue from direct phone service is probably more than a year away and that third-quarter results are due October 20.
- Elon Musk Says SpaceX Just Bought "the Last Critical Piece" Required to Take on the Wireless Giants. Here's Why It Will Need to Spend Billions More to Compete.
SpaceX has agreed to buy 14 MHz of paired spectrum licenses in the 800 MHz band from Grain Management for a reported $8 billion; these licenses were given up by T-Mobile in its Sprint merger. The spectrum suits long-distance coverage and building penetration, but its 14 MHz is less than one-third of Verizon's low-band holdings, so the article argues SpaceX would need much more spectrum and infrastructure to compete nationwide. The three major carriers recently formed a joint venture for satellite direct-to-device coverage, and their partnerships with SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are noted. The article says the next FCC auction, scheduled for April, could raise prices for everyone and pressure the carriers' finances.
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