SpaceX negotiates lease of up to 80,000 U.S. cell sites with Crown Castle

SpaceX is in discussions with tower owner Crown Castle to lease at least 80,000 cellular sites across the United States, a step toward building a fourth nationwide wireless network that would compete with Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile. The talks were reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by statements from Crown Castle’s CEO during its earnings call. The prospect of multi‑billion‑dollar leasing contracts sent Crown Castle shares sharply higher and pressured the three incumbent carriers.

Crown Castle stock jumped roughly 10% in after‑hours trading, reflecting investor optimism about new leasing revenue. The news also pushed Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile shares down 4‑5% in after‑hours trading as investors priced in heightened competition.

  • 1SpaceX is seeking to secure access to at least 80,000 U.S. cell sites.
  • 2Crown Castle is among the tower owners being approached for the leases.
  • 3Crown Castle’s CEO said the company is engaged in broader sector discussions with satellite‑based telecom providers.
  • 4The potential leasing agreements could involve billions of dollars.
  • 5Crown Castle stock surged nearly 10% in after‑hours trading following the news.
  • 6Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile shares fell between 4% and 5% in after‑hours trading after the report.

Sources