SpaceX has chosen Qualcomm to supply technology for a U.S. ground network supporting Starlink Mobile, a step toward combining terrestrial sites with satellite service as the company targets major wireless carriers.
Qualcomm said its Dragonwing line will supply the equipment and software planned for SpaceX's base stations. The company said the ground network is intended to work alongside Starlink's satellites and called the deal its largest 5G initiative to date.
Deployment is planned to begin in 2027. The companies have not disclosed financial terms, CNBC reported.
The buildout addresses a constraint in Starlink's mobile ambitions. The satellite service delivers broadband to millions of U.S. subscribers, but CNBC reported that its direct-to-device offering has not yet matched the range of voice, video and data coverage major carriers provide on popular smartphones. SpaceX is seeking to compete with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
Qualcomm has pursued infrastructure business as part of a broader 5G push that began in 2020, CNBC reported. The company had earlier agreements involving Verizon, Dish and Vodafone. CNBC described SpaceX as one of Qualcomm's most prominent partners in 5G infrastructure.
CNBC reported that the planned rollout is expected to cover tens of thousands of new cell sites. SpaceX has not named tower-company partners or disclosed how many towers it may need. Mobile carriers often lease space from tower companies, and locations can host multiple carriers, CNBC reported.
SpaceX also announced an agreement last month to buy a nationwide portfolio of spectrum in the 800 MHz band. Separately, Bloomberg reported that SpaceX was seeking access to at least 80,000 U.S. cell sites, as summarized in EconoTimes' coverage of the reported site search. The rollout with Qualcomm is planned to begin in 2027.
