SpaceX has signed a multiyear agreement with Qualcomm to supply network technology for Starlink Mobile, its planned U.S. cellular service. Qualcomm said the terrestrial network will complement Starlink’s satellite capabilities, with deployment expected to begin next year. The companies did not disclose financial terms.
The agreement will see SpaceX use Qualcomm’s Dragonwing cellular infrastructure hardware and software in base stations to support high-capacity coverage. Qualcomm executive vice president Durga Malladi said the project would advance 5G infrastructure and could help lay the groundwork for AI-native 6G in the future.
SpaceX plans to use the technology to establish tens of thousands of new cell sites. It has not announced any cell-tower company partners or said how many new towers the service may require.
The deal comes as SpaceX expands its efforts to compete with established U.S. mobile carriers. The company has been acquiring spectrum and forming partnerships, but its satellite network has so far limited the voice, video and data coverage it can offer directly to popular smartphones.
Qualcomm, best known for making chips and modems for mobile devices, has also pursued a larger role in 5G network infrastructure. SpaceX is among its prominent partners in the sector, alongside earlier agreements involving Verizon, Dish and Vodafone in Europe.
Sources: CNBC Markets.