SpaceX selects Qualcomm for 5G network

Starlink's next network buildout will involve substantial infrastructure on the ground.

What happened

Qualcomm announced that SpaceX selected its Dragonwing platforms for Starlink Mobile's planned nationwide US terrestrial 5G network.

Deployment is expected to begin in 2027, with tens of thousands of cellular sites covered by a multiyear agreement. This announcement concerns ground-based cellular infrastructure, alongside SpaceX's satellite connectivity business.

Why it matters

A terrestrial network introduces another set of deployment requirements: sites, radio equipment and the work needed to deliver usable coverage. Selecting a technology supplier is a concrete step in that process.

The bigger picture

The agreement sets out a planned buildout, not a nationwide service already operating. Integrating terrestrial and satellite connectivity could widen the services SpaceX can offer, but the quality, coverage and economics of the future network will depend on execution over several years.