Verizon CEO Dan Schulman tells interviewers that SpaceX would need substantial investment, infrastructure, and time to build a US mobile network that can rival Verizon. In response, Elon Musk posts on X that the effort “will take 2 or 3 years,” disputing Verizon’s projected timeline.
Across coverage, outlets cite Schulman’s claims that SpaceX’s plan would require up to $500 billion, as many as 80,000 cell towers, and up to eight years to compete. Business Insider’s framing, as echoed by other outlets, adds that Schulman is effectively assuming SpaceX executes “flawlessly,” while still emphasizing the scale of capital commitments.
Musk’s rebuttal is also linked to SpaceX’s broader strategy for connectivity. Times of India reports that SpaceX plans to switch on Starlink Mobile in early 2028 after buying low-band mobile spectrum worth about $8 billion. Other outlets focus more tightly on the exchange about the cost and timeline for competing directly with Verizon’s wireless network.
