SpaceX to Buy EchoStar Spectrum for $17bn
EchoStar has agreed a deal with SpaceX to sell its full portfolio of AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses in a $17 billion deal split between cash and SpaceX stock. SpaceX will also cover $2B in EchoStar debt interest through 2027.
The agreement isn’t just financial. EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers will gain access to SpaceX’s next-gen Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, bringing satellite-powered 5G directly to phones.
With this exclusive spectrum, SpaceX plans to launch a new wave of Starlink satellites designed to end mobile dead zones and dramatically boost performance. For EchoStar, the sale helps reduce debt while keeping its core businesses (DISH TV, Sling, Hughes) running strong.