Verizon and AT&T Stocks Drop as Elon Musk Moves Into Wireless

Oct 22, 2026

Elon Musk is pushing into the cell phone carrier business, and it's bad news for Verizon and AT&T.

  • Musk's company agreed to buy wireless spectrum for billions of dollars, a deal needed to launch Starlink-based cell service.
  • Verizon and AT&T stocks fell sharply within hours of the announcement as investors realized a new competitor was coming.
  • Starlink's satellite network could cover dead zones where traditional carriers lose signal, a direct threat to their service advantage.
  • Musk is also facing pushback abroad, including resistance from a powerful Indian billionaire who doesn't want Starlink operating in India.

Outlook: Expect Verizon and AT&T to face growing competitive pressure as Musk's satellite-based wireless plans move toward launch.

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