SpaceX Selects Qualcomm Dragonwing for Starlink Mobile 5G in 2027

Starlink Mobile is moving closer to operating as a U.S. cellular carrier. In a press release, Qualcomm announced that SpaceX has selected its Dragonwing chips to power base stations for Starlink Mobile’s nationwide 5G network, with rollout beginning in 2027.

Under the multi-year agreement, SpaceX plans to install tens of thousands of cellular sites across the United States. Financial terms were not disclosed.

What Qualcomm Is Providing

Qualcomm will deliver its Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, which will handle 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 designed to be power-efficient, helping keep costs down when deploying this many sites.

The network will operate across multiple spectrum bands and roll out in several waves. Qualcomm also described the deal as 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,”

Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s Senior Vice President, added that the partnership will help speed up development of Starlink’s base station architecture.

From Partner to Competitor

To date, SpaceX has delivered 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 bundled Starlink home internet with unlimited wireless plans. Now, SpaceX intends 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. Together, these moves set the stage for Starlink to challenge T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.

The Qualcomm deal addresses the ground portion of that plan. Starlink says it is building the first fully integrated nationwide satellite-and-terrestrial network designed to keep people connected wherever they are, with cell towers covering cities and satellites covering everything else.

SpaceX is also working on the phone side, hiring engineers to build custom RF chip modules so smartphones can connect better to Starlink Mobile.

SpaceX has not disclosed which tower companies it will partner with or how many new towers will be required. 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 significant one for Starlink Mobile.