Starlink Mobile is getting closer to becoming a real U.S. phone carrier. In a press release, Qualcomm announced that SpaceX has chosen its Dragonwing chips to power the base stations for Starlink Mobile’s nationwide 5G network, with rollout starting in 2027.
Under the multi-year deal, SpaceX plans to deploy tens of thousands of cellular sites across the U.S. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
What Qualcomm Is Providing
Qualcomm will supply its Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, which will handle the processing inside Starlink Mobile’s radio units and base stations. The network will use Massive MIMO radios with 64 transmit and 64 receive paths, which Qualcomm says will improve coverage and capacity so the network can handle more traffic. The chips are also designed to be power-efficient, which should help keep costs down when deploying this many sites.
The network will run on multiple spectrum bands and roll out in several waves. Qualcomm also called the deal a step toward a future AI-native 6G network with SpaceX.
“We shouldn’t live in a time where phone calls are still dropping whether you’re at home or on-the-go,” said Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s Senior Vice President. He added that the partnership will help speed up development of Starlink’s base station architecture.
From Partner to Competitor
Until now, SpaceX has offered satellite-to-phone service through existing terrestrial carriers. Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service works with T-Mobile in the U.S., and carriers like U.S. Mobile have even bundled Starlink home internet with unlimited wireless plans. Now, SpaceX wants to compete with them directly.
Last month, SpaceX agreed to buy nationwide 800 MHz spectrum to enable terrestrial Starlink Mobile connectivity that works better indoors. That adds to the 2 GHz spectrum it previously purchased from EchoStar, and the FCC has also approved 15,000 next-gen satellites built to connect directly to phones. All of this sets the stage for Starlink to enter the telecom market, competing with T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.
The Qualcomm deal fills in the ground side of that plan. Starlink says it’s building the first fully integrated nationwide satellite-and-terrestrial network that will keep people connected no matter where they are, with cell towers covering cities and satellites covering everything else.
SpaceX is also working on the phone side. It has been hiring engineers to build custom RF chip modules so smartphones can connect better to Starlink Mobile.
SpaceX hasn’t said which tower companies it will work with or how many new towers it will need. With the spectrum deal still awaiting FCC approval and next-gen satellites set to launch in mid-2027, the next year is shaping up to be a big one for Starlink Mobile.
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