AT&T Chief Executive Officer John Stankey said that Musk's SpaceX cellular network plan will not work, as he favors fiber-based connectivity over satellite connections.

In an interview on Tuesday, Stankey said he supports deploying fiber infrastructure to enhance network capabilities and ruled out the possibility of adopting satellite solutions.

"Nothing compares to it (fiber)," Stankey said, adding that its speed is three times that of satellite networks.

He asserted: "Even if everything goes smoothly in the next decade, satellite technology at its best cannot surpass fiber."

Stankey was also asked about SpaceX's plan to install cellular network base stations to transmit signals while deploying Starlink receiving antennas.

He said: "To achieve these functions, the cost would be comparable to building a macro cellular network."

He also pointed out that according to the law, companies "may not transmit cellular signals from someone else's residence without permission."

Additionally, Stankey mentioned that there are "a whole host of reasons" behind why SpaceX's plan will not work.

Earlier this month, T-Mobile US Chief Financial Officer Peter Osvaldik also questioned the claim that Starlink would threaten telecom operators.

He said: "Even if there were a million satellites in the sky, owning all the spectrum resources in the world, it would still be impossible to overcome the laws of basic physics."

Earlier this month, SpaceX received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide international telecommunications services.

This approval strongly advanced the commercial space company's plan to use the Starlink satellite constellation to provide "direct-to-cell" 5G network connectivity.

In addition, the FCC is also considering increasing spectrum resources for satellite broadband services and plans to vote on September 30 on releasing an additional 1000 MHz of spectrum.