Elon Musk’s SpaceX has agreed to pay $17 billion for wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar to build out its Starlink satellite network, the telecommunications firm said Monday.

The deal includes $8.5 billion in cash and up to $8.5 billion of SpaceX’s stock portfolio for two blocks of wireless spectrum that could expand its reach to cellphone users.

SpaceX also agreed to pay about $2 billion of cash toward interest payments on EchoStar’s debt through November 2027. 3

The deal comes after the FCC in May warned EchoStar it was investigating its commitment to provide 5G service in the US, questioning its buildout extension and mobile-satellite service.

In a letter to the company, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said EchoStar wasn’t effectively competing with major wireless carriers using

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