Key Facts

• The FCC approved EchoStar’s sale of spectrum licenses to AT&T for $23 billion and to SpaceX for $17 billion.
• AT&T will acquire spectrum in the 3.45 GHz and 600 MHz bands for its 5G and fixed wireless networks.
• SpaceX will buy spectrum between 1.695 GHz and 2.2 GHz to boost Starlink’s satellite mobile service for T-Mobile phones.
• The FCC Chairman Brendan Carr pushed EchoStar to sell the licenses after challenging Dish Network’s low use of the spectrum.
• EchoStar may oppose an FCC requirement to set aside $2.4 billion to pay construction companies working on the Dish network.
• Boost Mobile, owned by EchoStar, will use AT&T’s network instead of its own and will also access Starlink’s network through a deal with SpaceX.
• Rural wireless carriers criticized the sales, saying they hurt smaller providers and reduce competition in rural areas.
• FCC Chairman Carr credited President Trump for supporting advances in wireless technology and faster internet speeds through these deals.