Verizon Communications Inc. is in discussions with EchoStar Corp. about purchasing some of its wireless spectrum, according to people familiar with the matter.

The talks involve EchoStar’s AWS-3 licenses, valuable for carrying 5G wireless signals, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the discussions are private.

If finalized, the largest US wireless carrier would join AT&T Inc. and SpaceX in buying pieces of the airwaves from Charlie Ergen’s satellite-TV and telecom company. EchoStar began selling some of its assets last month to resolve a Federal Communications Commission probe into whether the company was moving fast enough in rolling out wireless service.

An EchoStar regulatory filing lists a “carrying amount” of $9.8 billion for the AWS-3 spectrum. Licenses recent

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