UPDATE, May 12, 2026: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that they have approved EchoStar’s spectrum sales to both AT&T and Starlink.
The AT&T purchase of EchoStar spectrum was announced last August, and Starlink’s purchase was announced in September (see both original stories below).
The FCC press release today celebrated the deals: “These two decisions promise to accelerate Internet speeds, strengthen competition, and bolster rural service while allowing America to lead the world in next-gen connectivity, including new high-speed offerings direct to your smartphone from low-earth orbit satellites.”
Original story follows: August 27, 2025
AT&T to acquire EchoStar spectrum for $23B
AT&T and EchoStar today announced two related agreements that will expand the wireless spectrum licenses owned by AT&T and deepen the companies’ cooperation in the operation of EchoStar’s Boost Mobile brand.
AT&T will acquire approximately 30 MHz of spectrum in the 3.45 GHz mid-band and approximately 20 MHz nationwide in the 600 MHz low-band for about $23 billion. The all-cash transaction is subject to “certain adjustments.”
AT&T says that the spectrum deal with Echostar will impact virtually its entire footprint. The company says it will use the midband licenses to support AT&T Internet Air, its advanced fixed wireless home internet service.
This will include areas where it intends to offer AT&T Fiber in the future and provide customers with a migration path. It will also support artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) use cases, such as AI-native devices, autonomous vehicles, and advanced robotics.
The spectrum will support Echostar Boost Mobile customers quickly through lease arrangements for which AT&T has options that could be exercised before the deal closes.
The spectrum sale is expected to close in the middle of next year. AT&T’s press release reiterates its full-year 2025 financial guidance and capital return plans, including an expected $20 billion of share repurchase capacity in the 2025-2027 timeframe.
“This acquisition bolsters and expands our spectrum portfolio while enhancing customers’ 5G wireless and home internet experience in even more markets,” AT&T’s Chairman and CEO John Stankey said in AT&T’s press release.
The other news was the much closer relationship between AT&T and EchoStar. The companies have upgraded their network services agreement to create a hybrid mobile network operator relationship. EchoStar said the transaction is part of its “ongoing efforts to resolve the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) inquiries.”
Boost Mobile customers will continue to get access to its cloud-native 5G core network, which connects to both AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks. Elements of Boost Mobile’s radio access network will be decommissioned over time, according to the EchoStar press release.
“This transaction puts our business on a solid financial path, further facilitating EchoStar’s long-term success, and enhancing our ability to innovate and compete as a hybrid network operator,” Hamid Akhavan, EchoStar’s CEO and president, said in an EchoStar press release about the AT&T deal.
Almost a year ago — in late September — DirecTV announced the acquisition of EchoStar’s video distribution assets, which included DISH TV and the streaming service Sling TV.
Original story follows: September 8, 2025
EchoStar sells spectrum to SpaceX in $17B deal
EchoStar is selling its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses for approximately $17 billion to SpaceX, the company announced today. Space X will pay about half of the amount in cash and the remainder in company stock under the agreement, which also provides for SpaceX to fund an aggregate of approximately $2 billion of cash interest payments payable on EchoStar debt through November of 2027.
EchoStar plans to use the SpaceX funds to retire certain debt obligations and to fund the company’s continued operations and growth initiatives. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.
The two companies will also enter into a long-term commercial agreement, which is designed to enable EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers — through its cloud-native 5G core ± to access SpaceX’s next-generation Starlink direct-to-cell service.
“For the past decade, we’ve acquired spectrum and facilitated worldwide 5G spectrum standards and devices, all with the foresight that direct-to-cell connectivity via satellite would change the way the world communicates,” Hamid Akhavan, president and CEO of EchoStar, said in a prepared statement.
“This transaction with SpaceX continues our legacy of putting the customer first as it allows for the combination of AWS-4 and H-block spectrum from EchoStar with the rocket launch and satellite capabilities from SpaceX to realize the direct-to-cell vision in a more innovative, economical and faster way for consumers worldwide.”
The company added that current operations of its DISH TV, Sling, and Hughes will not be impacted by the transaction.
The transaction with SpaceX was the second recent deal involving EchoStar selling spectrum. In August, AT&T and EchoStar unveiled agreements that would expand the wireless spectrum licenses owned by AT&T and deepen the companies’ cooperation in the operation of EchoStar’s Boost Mobile brand.
AT&T was to acquire approximately 30 MHz of spectrum in the 3.45 GHz mid-band and approximately 20 MHz nationwide in the 600 MHz low band for about $23 billion. The all-cash transaction was said to be subject to “certain adjustments.”
Phil Britt was the author of the September article.
