News
The deal represents the latest step in a multi-stage spectrum strategy for Grain.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Digital infrastructure investment firm Grain Management, LLC has struck a deal to sell its entire nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to SpaceX.
The transaction, subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval and standard closing conditions, targets a major frontier in telecommunications: integrating space-based satellite networks with traditional ground-based mobile coverage.
Under the agreement, SpaceX will deploy the low-band spectrum — prized in the industry for its ability to travel long distances and penetrate physical barriers — to power its Starlink Mobile direct-to-device (D2D) services.
“For nearly twenty years, we have built Grain to see opportunity where others see complexity,” said David Grain, founder and CEO of Grain Management. “Our spectrum expertise allows us to connect the strategic value of these assets with the technologies and operators that can realize their potential. This agreement with SpaceX brings that capability to bear at extraordinary scale, with the potential to change where and how Americans connect.”
Grain originally acquired the 800 MHz portfolio from T-Mobile in August 2026. That transaction followed a July 2026 FCC order that set up a competitive selection framework and a pathway for satellite D2D deployment, aligning with federal goals to maximize spectrum usage.
“Spectrum is a finite resource with an expanding role in the economy,” Grain added. “As terrestrial and space-based networks converge, we see a new horizon globally for our spectrum strategy, building on our experience to address larger industry challenges and help shape the next generation of connectivity.”
In executing the deal, Grain said they retained BDT & MSD Partners as financial advisor, Milbank as legal counsel, and Latham & Watkins as regulatory counsel.
Some AI tools were used in the crafting of this report.
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