SATELLITES MEET THE SIDEWALK! SpaceX struck a multiyear deal with Qualcomm to supply key network technology for Starlink Mobile — Elon Musk’s U.S. cellular challenger to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — CNBC reported Wednesday.
Qualcomm called it its largest 5G initiative to date. The terrestrial network will “complement Starlink’s satellite capabilities,” with rollout planned to begin next year. Financial terms were not disclosed. SpaceX will use Qualcomm’s Dragonwing cellular infrastructure hardware and software in base stations for high-capacity Starlink Mobile coverage.
“Together with SpaceX, we are building world-leading cellular infrastructure in the United States, advancing 5G today, with an opportunity to lay the foundation for AI-native 6G in the years ahead,” Qualcomm EVP Durga Malladi said in the statement.
Starlink already accounts for 36% of SpaceX revenue and 85% of operating profit in Q3, but direct-to-device mobile has been limited. Last month SpaceX announced a nationwide 800 MHz spectrum purchase that rattled carrier shares; the Washington Post reported talks to acquire EchoStar’s Boost Mobile. SpaceX plans tens of thousands of new cell sites with Qualcomm tech but has not named tower partners. SpaceX went public in June and is valued near $2 trillion.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Bugle Blast.
Sources: CNBC
Leave a Reply