SpaceX to Build Starlink Mobile 5G Network in the US with Qualcomm

SpaceX, together with Qualcomm, is preparing to build the Starlink Mobile 5G network in the US. Under a multiyear agreement, Qualcomm’s Dragonwing technology will be used at tens of thousands of 5G base stations. The first installations will begin in 2027. The project is a key part of SpaceX’s plan to become a nationwide mobile operator.

SpaceX wants to turn the Starlink Mobile service into one of the largest mobile operators in the US. The company plans to compete directly with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. To this end, it has already acquired extensive spectrum resources used for mobile communications. There are also reports that SpaceX is considering acquiring the Boost Mobile operator.

Dragonwing combines hardware and software for mobile networks into a single system. The platform is designed to expand network coverage, serve more users simultaneously and operate efficiently. SpaceX will integrate this infrastructure with a satellite network capable of connecting directly to mobile phones. As a result, Starlink Mobile will operate using both ground stations and satellites.

The agreement is described as the largest 5G contract Qualcomm has signed to date. Durga Malladi, the company’s executive vice president, said the partnership would help build advanced mobile communications infrastructure in the US. In addition to expanding the 5G network, the companies plan to lay the groundwork for the transition to 6G technology in the coming years.