Space technology company SpaceX said on March 5, 2025, that its Starlink satellite unit has no intent to take over Verizon's $2.4bn telecommunications contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In a post made on X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk’s space company said that previous media reports regarding a potential takeover were false.
“Starlink is a possible partial fix to an aging system,” the company read. "There is no effort or intent for Starlink to 'take over' any existing contract. SpaceX is working with L3Harris and the FAA to identify instances where Starlink could serve as a long-term infrastructure upgrade for aviation safety."
Just last week, Musk criticised Verizon's current air traffic control communication system, stating that it is “breaking down” very rapidly.
“The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveller safety at serious risk,” said Musk. “The Starlink terminals are being sent at no cost to the taxpayer on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity.”
This week a US House of Representatives subcommittee heard how the FAA, at a minimum, is said to need $212 million just to sustain current surveillance systems, as many components of legacy radars are past their end-of-life cycles and are no longer manufactured.
The US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week that Starlink is "part of the solution" but not the entire answer.