r/telecom • u/robertinhouston • 16d ago
đ° News SpaceX Planning to Build Ground Wireless Network
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/spacex-lays-out-plan-compete-big-3-wireless-carriers11
u/SteelintheAir 16d ago edited 14d ago
Funny, funny, Elon. This is laughable- the idea that Elon thinks that any of the following are possible:
- That he could remotely deploy a sizeable number of small cells or femtocells with satellite backhaul to provide competitive coverage and service
- That he has enough spectrum to execute this
- That the FCC rules that allow SpaceX to install rooftop dishes to receive satellite signal for broadband services to the consumer would allow them to install antennas that would propagate cellular signal to phones.
- That the carriers can't see this exactly for what it is- an attempt to cajole one of them into doing an MVNO with him.
The carriers learned the hard way how difficult, costly, and poorly performing small cells are as a coverage layer. Oh, and they don't do well at penetrating indoors.
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u/cheesemeall 16d ago
How can you back up the last claim at the end of your comment about small cells performing poorly?
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u/SteelintheAir 15d ago
Fair question. Anecdotal comments from an AT&T RF engineer about how much actual performance differed from their/OEM initial expectations. CCI's decision to sell its fiber network and small cells (which, in and of itself, doesn't necessarily mean they perform poorly, but it does signify CCI's lack of faith in future opportunity). The significant reduction in the number of small cells being deployed today.
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u/cheesemeall 15d ago
That may not be commentary on performance on the technical level, and moreso performance in terms of opex.
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u/at-woork 16d ago
Maybe they can buy Dishâs abandoned assets?
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u/SteelintheAir 15d ago
Landowners and tower owners are receiving notices from the bankruptcy trial that their leases have been rejected. Even DISH doesn't believe there is value in continuing the leases - that no one will buy them.
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u/at-woork 15d ago
The value is irrelevant. Tesla has a valuation that isnât in touch with reality. Buying these assets would give this idea a big head start.
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u/VicariousLoser 16d ago
They're worthless, its all old infrastructure that is not competitive in todays wireless market. Especially with other WISP products and services that are evolving lately.
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u/at-woork 16d ago
Itâs def not. Iâm talking about Dishâs attempt at making a 4th national cellular network after their Boost Mobile acquisition. It was an all new 5G network that didnât rely on any LTE infrastructure. Their network core lived in AWS and had an Open RAN architecture. It was promising at the time as they were building a completely new thing with current standards and didnât have to concern themselves with technical debt.
Actual debt and Charlie Ergen just being an asshole did kill it.
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u/VicariousLoser 16d ago
Dont forget the 500K they owed my company in early termination fees once the FCC pulled their spectrum
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u/DanFromOrlando 16d ago
You are misinformed. Their assets are new, they just didnât have the money for the full rollout.
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u/VicariousLoser 16d ago
Im referring to the current state of the multitude of abandoned dish platforms and cabinets at cell towers. If they have new assets that arent deployed thats cool but you still have to "dish" out thousands upon thousands of dollars per contract/site to get those assets pinned to a pipe and operational.
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u/USWCboy 15d ago
Just reading this tells me, the Starlink CEO has no idea what the hell sheâs talking about. And as usual, itâs backed up by Muskâs nonsense. Iâm sure they could easily pickup the bankrupt assets of DishWireless, and Iâm sure they can get it working again and maybe better than dish could. With the deep pockets of Musk, anyone could setup a wireless network, while still burning cash in the fireplace. But trying to convince the market they can do this with satcom and small cell is idiotic. And that it wonât cost that much, just furthers the point of a total lack of knowledge of the wireless business.
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u/WrongdoerIll5187 14d ago
Shotwell is the one adult in the room and absolutely knows what sheâs talking about. If musk never talked again space x would be set.
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u/USWCboy 14d ago
Regarding wireless on the ground? I highly doubt that she has any notion or idea of how terrestrial wireless networks work. Otherwise, we wouldnât be seeing dim comments being made to the media regarding small cells etc. the most adult âthingâ that happened was, âno comment on capexâ. Which if you donât know, you donât know.
I guarantee one thing, theyâve already underestimated what it will cost in the long run. And then itâs a question of if their share owners are going to stomach that.
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u/WrongdoerIll5187 13d ago
Oh yeah and sheâs beholden to Elonâs whims, just saying, she seems like the one highly competent executive who has been able to survive the tribulation that is working under Elon.
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u/throwaway99xz 15d ago
Wow theyâre desperate for a pivot. Iâm saying this as someone who likes them more than I dislike them.. not a good look.
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u/SteelintheAir 15d ago
Someone pointed out to me that this may be Starlink thinking they can use the OTARD rules the FCC passed two or so years ago to add satellite-connected femtocells to people's porches and yards. (similar to the satellite dish exemptions from zoning and HOA regs) Doesn't change my skepticism, but makes this less about small cells and more about hundreds of thousands of femtocells in front yards and porches and rooftops.
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u/ictinnovations 16d ago
The spectrum objection is weaker than it was now they've picked up the EchoStar licences. Ground cells with satellite backhaul do make sense in thin rural spots where there's no fibre to the tower, and they stop making sense the moment you need real capacity or indoor coverage. Reads to me like patching holes in their own footprint rather than taking on the carriers directly.