S.E. Robinson, Jr. (@SERobinsonJr)

STARLINK: SpaceX plans to build its terrestrial cellular network by placing small cellular radios, femtocells, inside or next to existing Starlink dishes on a limited number of rooftops, Gateways, and Tesla Superchargers. Basically turning a subset of its existing Starlink installations into a distributed small-cell network that phones can use directly. Here is how it works: - Hardware: SpaceX will add a small cellular radio unit to some existing dishes. The unit uses the terrestrial spectrum SpaceX is acquiring from EchoStar (about 65 MHz). - Coverage: These units act as low-power cell sites. A regular phone in the area connects over the air to the nearest rooftop radio the same way it connects to a normal cell tower today. No special hardware on the phone is needed. - Density: SpaceX only needs enough host sites to create usable coverage in a given area. It eliminates the need to lease traditional macro towers. - Backhaul: The same Starlink satellite link that already serves the dish can carry the cellular traffic back to the core network, or local fiber can be used where available. - Cost: The approach avoids the high cost and slow permitting of conventional cell towers. SpaceX says this keeps upfront capital spending far lower than a traditional carrier buildout. Commercial service is targeted for the end of 2027. More Starlink news in today's EC below!

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STARLINK: The National Superannuation Fund Limited (Nasfund) of Papua New Guinea launched Mobile Service Booths Powered by Starlink that deliver full member services directly to workplaces and remote communities across the country. Starting in Port Moresby, Starlink supports the booths with over 90 Mbps and allows on-the-spot ID card production, member statement printing, benefit eligibility screening, and account updates. Nasfund is a retirement fund with the goal to provide financial protection and a comfortable living for its members, or to support them and their beneficiaries in the event of unemployment, disability, or death. More Starlink news in today's ELON CHRON below!

SPACEX: On May 20th, the Port of Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved authority to negotiate an easement and right-of-way for a SpaceX planned 16-inch natural gas pipeline from the Port of Brownsville to Starbase. The proposed underground line spans approximately 5.76 miles. This does not grant final construction approval; additional engineering, environmental, and regulatory steps remain pending. This could eliminate the massive amount of truck needed per launch.

SPACEX: Today, the company officially announced the launch of its IPO and initiated the roadshow. Offering includes 555,555,555 shares of Class A common at an expected price of $135/share, trading scheduled to begin June 12th on Nasdaq under ticker SPCX. Roadshow presentation presented by SpaceX CFO, Bret Johnson (@BretWJ). thread...

STARLINK: Today, SpaceX Sr. Director of Starlink Market Access & Development, Ryan Goodnight, and Executive Director of Uganda Communications Commission, Nyombi Thembo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and operational license agreement. The agreement allows SpaceX to begin Starlink operations as they agree to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements.

SPACEX: A realtor named Jim Keaty of Keaty Real Estate published a rumor of possible SpaceX land acquisition in Louisiana. It states SpaceX may have acquired or is acquiring 136k acres (212 sq miles) of marshland south of Highway 82 towards the Gulf of America in Pecan Island and Freshwater City in Vermilion Parish of the Acadiana region. At the Southeast corner of the land near the Freshwater City boat launch is a plot ready to be converted for port operations and direct access to the Intercoastal Canal and the Gulf of America. Pecan Island is halfway between Boca Chica and Cape Canaveral, and has easy access to Cheniere LNG and Golden Pass LNG; both on the either side of the Louisiana and Texas border at Sabine Pass. This has not been confirmed by SpaceX of Elon. More SpaceX news in the ELON CHRON below!