SpaceX Looking to Use AWS-3 for Direct-to-Cell

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2025 – SpaceX is aiming to use terrestrial spectrum from EchoStar for its direct-to-cell satellite service, the company told regulators Wednesday.

The company reached a deal to buy unpaired AWS-3 licenses from EchoStar earlier this month for $2.6 billion in stock, in addition to EchoStar’s 2 GigaHertz (GHz)/AWS-4 and H-block licenses it agreed to purchase previously for $17 billion.

The AWS-3 airwaves, originally the Advanced Wireless Service, are currently only allocated for terrestrial use, but the satellite operator told the Federal Communications Commission it’s hoping to use them for its planned next-generation direct-to-cell service.