SpaceX Buying EchoStar Satellite Spectrum for $17 Billion
EchoStar said the deal should end FCC inquiries into the company's spectrum licenses.
EchoStar said the deal should end FCC inquiries into the company's spectrum licenses.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2025 – EchoStar announced Monday it had reached a deal to sell more of its spectrum licenses, this time to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for about $17 billion. EchoStar said it expected the deal to resolve Federal Communications Commission inquiries into its spectrum holdings.
The company is planning to sell its AWS-4 and PCS H-block licenses, about 50 megahertz in total, for $8.5 billion in cash and $8.5 billion in SpaceX stock (which is not publicly traded). SpaceX will also pay $2 billion toward existing EchoStar interest payments through November 2027.
SpaceX will also gain access to EchoStar’s mobile-satellite service licenses, allowing it to use the same AWS-4 airwaves to boost its direct-to-device capabilities. EchoStar’s mobile subscribers will be able to access the service as part of the deal.
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