SpaceX picks Qualcomm chips for Starlink Mobile 5G network in US

SpaceX has signed a multiyear deal with Qualcomm to supply the hardware for its Starlink Mobile cellular network in the United States. The chipmaker said SpaceX has chosen its Dragonwing cellular infrastructure platforms to build base stations for the service.

Under the agreement, Qualcomm's Dragonwing technology will be installed at "tens of thousands" of 5G cell sites across the country. The first deployments are scheduled for 2027. The announcement came from Qualcomm's own release, and the details below are drawn from that statement and from coverage that followed it.

Qualcomm said the rollout uses its QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, paired with commercial-grade Layer 1 software. The package combines high-capacity Massive MIMO radio gear, which uses many antennas to carry more traffic, with baseband processing that handles the signal.

The deal is part of a wider push by Elon Musk's company into mobile phone service. SpaceX wants Starlink Mobile to become a major US carrier, rivalling T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. It has already bought a large block of radio spectrum, the airwaves licensed for wireless calls and data. Recent reports also said SpaceX had explored buying Boost Mobile, though the sources do not say whether that talk has led to a deal.

For readers in India, the deal is a sign of how satellite and mobile networks may come together. Starlink already offers internet from orbit, and a land-based 5G network would add a second layer of coverage. Any consumer pricing or plans for Starlink Mobile have not been announced.

What happens next depends on the rollout schedule, which begins in 2027. The sources do not say how much the deal is worth or when Starlink Mobile service will reach customers.