SpaceX recruits Qualcomm to challenge America's biggest mobile carriers

SpaceX has selected Qualcomm to supply the infrastructure for Starlink Mobile’s upcoming terrestrial 5G network, making it the first player to challenge established US carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in a while. The company plans to begin deploying its nationwide network in 2027, with tens of thousands of cellular sites expected to come online over a multi-year agreement.

According to Qualcomm’s announcement, SpaceX will use its Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms alongside commercial-grade Layer 1 software. The former handles radio processing, while the latter manages latency-sensitive baseband workloads.

The infrastructure will support 64T64R Massive MIMO technology, featuring 64 transmit and 64 receive antenna paths. Qualcomm claims the architecture can improve network capacity, coverage and spectrum efficiency while keeping power consumption under control.

It is important to note the partnership concerns terrestrial cellular infrastructure and not the satellite hardware Starlink is best known for. SpaceX ultimately wants Starlink Mobile to combine conventional ground-based coverage with satellite-to-phone connectivity, potentially providing service in areas where either technology alone would struggle.

The announcement follows SpaceX’s October agreement to acquire up to 14 MHz of paired nationwide 800 MHz spectrum from Grain Management, subject to regulatory approval. These lower-frequency airwaves could help improve indoor connectivity, which remains a significant challenge for satellite-based cellular services.

As we previously reported, the FCC authorised SpaceX to deploy 15,000 next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites, potentially delivering significantly faster direct-to-device connectivity. The company has also encountered resistance from established US mobile operators. Recent reports suggest SpaceX has considered acquiring Boost Mobile or obtaining access to its network after struggling to secure agreements with larger carriers.

Qualcomm’s involvement gives SpaceX a concrete technology partner as it pursues its own infrastructure deployment. Although the companies have discussed eventually building toward AI-native 6G, the immediate focus remains terrestrial 5G. Neither company has disclosed the agreement’s financial terms, consumer pricing or a firm date for nationwide commercial availability. The planned 2027 rollout only marks the beginning of deployment, with no word about when the nationwide grid will be fully operational.