Industry pooh-poohs SpaceX mobile ambitions: A partial rebuttal

Industry analysts and observers have been pooh-poohing SpaceX’s satellite-based mobile service ambitions since the company boasted about those plans on its earnings call. SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said the company should be able to acquire “quite a few” customers from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile because “our service will be better” by eliminating dead zones and working better during natural disasters. But industry analysts and observers are challenging that assertion, arguing that the company can’t rely totally on satellite-based service and can’t easily build a nationwide terrestrial network. A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with one of the Big Three mobile service providers would be a better option, some say. But it could be difficult for SpaceX to get an MVNO deal.