Starlink Mobile: SpaceX Taps Qualcomm for 5G Network

SpaceX has signed a multiyear deal with Qualcomm to supply 5G network equipment for Starlink Mobile, its planned ground-based mobile service in the United States, the two companies said on Wednesday, November 4. CNBC reported that the rollout will begin next year, in 2027, and could cover tens of thousands of cell sites.

What the Starlink Mobile deal covers

Qualcomm will provide hardware and software from its Dragonwing range of cellular infrastructure products. These are the radio and baseband systems that sit at cell sites and handle the signal between towers and phones. Key points:

• Partner: Qualcomm, best known for smartphone chips.
• Scope: 5G radio and baseband equipment plus software for a US terrestrial network.
• Timing: rollout starts in 2027.
• Size: tens of thousands of cell sites; financial terms were not disclosed.

Qualcomm called the agreement its biggest 5G infrastructure deal so far. The company has previously supplied network gear to Verizon, Dish and Vodafone.

"Together with SpaceX, we are building world-leading cellular infrastructure in the United States, advancing 5G today, with an opportunity to lay the foundation for AI-native 6G in the years ahead," said Durga Malladi, an executive vice president at Qualcomm.

A new rival for US carriers

Starlink is already the world's largest satellite internet service. With Starlink Mobile, SpaceX wants to add its own ground network, setting it up as a challenger to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

The company has been moving quickly. Last month SpaceX agreed to buy nationwide 800 MHz spectrum, and The Washington Post has reported that it is in talks to acquire EchoStar's Boost Mobile. SpaceX has not yet named partners for the towers its equipment will use.

Why Starlink matters to SpaceX

Starlink is SpaceX's main money-maker. According to CNBC, it made up 36% of SpaceX's revenue in the third quarter and 85% of its operating profit. SpaceX went public in June in the largest IPO on record, and it is now valued at close to $2 trillion.

Dragonwing is the brand Qualcomm uses for its industrial and network chips. In a mobile network, the radio unit at each site sends and receives signals, while the baseband unit processes them. By buying this equipment directly and running its own software, SpaceX can build a network without relying on traditional suppliers such as Ericsson and Nokia. The Verge also reported the deal on Wednesday.

For Qualcomm, the deal is a chance to grow its network business beyond phone chips as smartphone demand slows.

What it means for users in Asia

Starlink Mobile is a US project for now, and the companies did not announce plans for other countries. But the deal shows how satellite firms and chipmakers are moving into mobile networks, a trend that could reach Southeast Asia as 5G and later 6G spread. Read the full report from CNBC.

What to watch in Starlink Mobile

Analysts will now watch which tower owners sign up to host the new equipment, and whether SpaceX completes its spectrum purchases and any talks over Boost Mobile. The 2027 start date leaves little time to build a network at scale, so early progress on sites and licences will be a key signal. For Qualcomm, delivering at that pace would strengthen its case as a supplier of network gear, while US carriers will be closely following how Starlink Mobile prices and markets its service to customers.

More tech news: Google's $15bn Malaysia investment, foldable smartphones in Thailand and AI-powered smartphones.

Photo: Qualcomm headquarters in La Jolla, San Diego, by Coolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. File photo; Qualcomm will supply equipment for Starlink Mobile.