Qualcomm has been chosen by SpaceX to supply the hardware and software that will underpin the terrestrial component of the upcoming Starlink Mobile service, according to a filing that outlines the partnership’s technical scope.
Qualcomm to Supply Hardware for Starlink Mobile Network
The agreement tasks Qualcomm with delivering its Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure platform, which will power the ground-based base stations envisioned for the mobile network. The platform builds on Qualcomm’s QRU100 radio unit and QDU100 distributed unit, together with layer-one software that enables advanced antenna functions.
The plan calls for a virtualized radio access network, or vRAN, architecture that leverages the same components across many sites. By using a common hardware suite, the company hopes to streamline deployment and maintenance of the nationwide system.
Technical Details of the Planned Terrestrial System
Within the filing, Qualcomm highlighted that the operator intends to employ “massive” MIMO antennas featuring 64 transmit and 64 receive paths per antenna—referred to as 64T64R. This configuration supports fine-grained beamforming and precise coverage control for each antenna unit.
The massive-MIMO approach is designed to improve signal quality and capacity, especially in dense urban environments where traditional cell sites struggle to meet demand. Qualcomm’s software will manage the distributed units that feed the antennas, creating a coordinated network across the country.
Gwynne Shotwell, chief operating officer, previously suggested that the company could mount a cellular base station on the same pole that holds a Starlink broadband dish, effectively turning existing broadband sites into small femtocells that can be deployed where needed.
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Elon Musk, chief executive, said the firm feels “reasonably confident that we can deploy a large number of sort of small stations, essentially, that they’re really just Starlink dishes that also provide connectivity in the mobile spectrum bands.”
Deployment Timeline and Spectrum Acquisitions
Qualcomm’s statement indicates that the firm aims to start a U.S. nationwide rollout in 2027, with “tens-of-thousands of sites” to be installed over the term of the multi-year agreement. The scale of the effort suggests a significant expansion beyond the satellite-only model currently in use.
Earlier this year, the company secured approval to purchase 65 megahertz of spectrum in the 2 GHz band for more than $11 billion from EchoStar. It also entered a deal with Grain Management to acquire 14 megahertz of 800 MHz band spectrum for a reported $8 billion. These purchases give the firm low-band and mid-band resources needed for the terrestrial service.
Company Outlook on Revenue Potential
During the same earnings call, Shotwell referenced that Wi-Fi networks handle up to 93% of mobile traffic, and that Starlink’s S-band spectrum can support that load. She added that the low-band spectrum would “provide a critical piece” for coverage inside buildings lacking Wi-Fi.
Musk hinted that the mobile venture could evolve into a “several hundred-billion-dollars” annual revenue stream, though he suggested a more detailed presentation would be needed to outline the full business case.
While the partnership with the chipmaker supplies the technical backbone, the success of Starlink Mobile will also depend on securing tower space and possibly acquiring existing mobile assets. Rumors indicate negotiations with domestic tower operators to place equipment at up to 80,000 sites, and talks about purchasing EchoStar’s Boost Mobile service.
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