Elon Musk Revives Long-Running Feud With Apple as SpaceX Opposes Satellite Plans (2025)

Key Takeaways

• SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is challenging Apple’s efforts to expand its satellite operations through Globalstar.
• Apple is investing heavily in satellite technology but notably has access to much fewer satellites than SpaceX.
• The ongoing feud between Musk and Apple has spanned nearly a decade.

Elon Musk has locked horns with Apple, reigniting a long-standing feud dating back almost a decade.

SpaceX has taken issue with Apple’s pursuit of more airwaves, also known as spectrum, for network signals to travel through, which are becoming increasingly limited as the space race continues.

SpaceX and Apple

Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has transformed the satellite industry with Starlink, a low Earth orbit fleet positioned much closer to Earth than traditional satellites.

The company aims to provide high-speed internet access to people worldwide, specifically in remote areas where traditional internet options are unavailable.

Meanwhile, Apple also aims to provide its devices with high-speed internet coverage globally.

In 2024, Apple invested over $1 billion in satellite firm Globalstar, which supports the company’s iPhone on-device satellite coverage.

When iPhone users are in areas without an internet or mobile connection, the service allows them to send text messages or call emergency assistance.

“This technology has already helped save lives,” Apple said . “These satellite features are designed to complement carrier offerings, giving users even more ways to stay connected.”

However, according to the Wall Street Journal , SpaceX recently urged U.S. regulators to delay Globalstar’s expansion plans.

SpaceX Pushes Back Against Apple

The request to delay Globalstar’s plans to claim more spectrum follows news that Musk and Apple had been locked into tense negotiations over granting Starlink connectivity directly to iPhones.

SpaceX’s Starlink currently operates over 7,000 satellites worldwide, a much more extensive fleet than Apple has access to.

In contrast, Globalstar operates just over thirty satellites , with 26 more planned for low Earth orbit following the Apple investment.

In recent years, the iPhone maker has discussed securing more spectrum with other firms, including Boeing , but has not reached a deal.

Musk and Apple’s Decade-Long Feud

This isn’t the first time that the world’s richest man has butted heads with Apple, the world’s most valuable company.

In 2015, Musk slammed the iPhone maker as a “Tesla graveyard” after several former Tesla engineers reportedly joined Apple.

Musk’s electric and autonomous vehicle ambitions have also been rivaled by Apple when rumors began circulating about an Apple car after the tech giant began hiring automotive engineers.

In 2016, Musk claimed it was “obvious” that the company would try to make a compelling car.

“It’s pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it,” he said.

Musk criticized Apple’s vehicle ambitions , stating, “Cars are very complex compared to phones or smartwatches.”

“You can’t just go to a supplier like Foxconn and say: build me a car,” he said.

In 2022, shortly after purchasing X, formerly Twitter, Musk threatened to remove the platform from Apple’s App Store.

“Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why,” Musk wrote.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1597285572699074560

Musk went on to accuse Apple of mostly stopping advertising on the platform.

“Do they hate free speech in America?” he wrote on the platform.

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