Here’s a novel idea:
Fiber is great where dense; 5G mid-band strong in cities. But Starlink (SpaceX) crushes rural/low-density. Immediate deep integration/partnership: Bundle AT&T wireless/fiber with Starlink for seamless "always-on" global coverage. License Starlink tech or co-develop direct-to-cell. This neutralizes competition and expands TAM massively.
Deploy spectrum (from EchoStar/Lumen deals) with obsessive efficiency—Tesla-style manufacturing for cell sites and fiber rollout. Aim for 5M+ new fiber passings/year via automation/robotics. Open RAN? Push harder with custom silicon (like Dojo for AI inference on the edge).
Make convergence king: One app, one bill, one unbeatable experience for phone + home internet + vehicle connectivity. Churn drops when customers are locked into superior physics.
6 replies (most recent on top)
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Pay attention, SpaceX acquired another orbital slot in lower Earth Orbit complete with added spectrum. To me that signals an improved link budget that may even dare I say, provide the margin required to hold up a traditional cell network and compete with terrestrial resources. When SpaceX announced in 2015 I raised concerns in a (regional) meeting about SpaceX competing with our network. It was quickly dismissed….. here we are……
Unfortunately, Leadership is no longer interested in the opinions of individual contributors. This is no longer 2012 and TIP has been retired.
It's not novel, this idea came up about 20 years ago, 10 years ago, 7 years ago and now, not because of Starlink, there have been many attempts for satellite to augment coverage areas, most of the Satellite telecom businesses went under. All of the incumbents have been waiting for some type of subsidy to cover rural areas, none of them want fiber to rural house. SpaceX just happens to get a ton of government funding to make it more cost effective and has been willing to run at an operating loss for long enough to get to a critical mass. It also helps that Starlink addresses a global rural issue not just a US based one.
T wanted broadband to include mobile data at very low bandwidths, so they could get gov funding to cover their infra costs. The difference is that T would have pocketed the profits and sent it out as dividends, SpaceX is using the money and still operating at a loss.
T passed up on so many opportunities, invested in a few, is better on ASTS but will hedge their bets and move to Starlink if ASTS has a hiccup. T has way too much debt and too much of a commitment for dividends to turn their ship around.
Nah.
We’re going to focus on VCRs. That’s the future.
Thanks, but novel ideas are not really what we do here. Now, do you have a favorite company that makes baked goods? We are thinking about acquiring one of those to really synergize the businesses strategy. I understand we can get it for only 40% premium on the stock price. Then our door-to-door sales team can provide branded twinkies to potential customers. Win as one!!!!
Starlink? You mean asts.