SpaceX has signed a deal with Qualcomm to build a nationwide 5G mobile network in the United States. This project will connect Starlink satellites with thousands of ground-based cell sites. Qualcomm announced the deal on November 4, saying SpaceX plans to start building the network in 2027 and add thousands of cell sites over the next few years.
Qualcomm will provide radio equipment, baseband units and software for Starlink Mobile. The value of the deal did not made public. Qualcomm called it the biggest 5G deal in its history. The deal expands Qualcomm’s role in mobile network development beyond making chips for smartphones and other electronic devices.
The network will use two Qualcomm platforms, Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100. The QRU100 platform will handle radio tasks that send and receive wireless signals. The QDU100 platform will process those signals and help the network respond quickly. These systems will help SpaceX to build the equipment that connects phones to cell sites.
The radio units will use 64T64R Massive MIMO technology. It means Each radio unit has 64 paths for sending signals and 64 separate paths for receiving them. This design can help a cell site serve more users, improve signal reach and transfer more data over the same radio space. Qualcomm also says its systems can use less power that could also help SpaceX to keep costs down as it expands its network.
SpaceX aims to link its ground-based network with Starlink satellites. This could allow users to access mobile services through regular cell towers in populated areas and satellite connections in places with limited ground coverage. Starlink already has a direct-to-cell partnership with T-Mobile. The service allows supported phones to connect to Starlink satellites when regular mobile coverage is unavailable.
The new SpaceX project goes further. This project will allow SpaceX to develop and operate its own nationwide mobile network rather than depending on towers owned by other networks. This could bring Starlink Mobile into direct competition with major U.S. operators such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Those companies already operates large networks and serve millions of customers.
SpaceX has also worked to secure radio frequencies that are used to carry calls and data. In May 2026, the Federal Communications Commission approved key parts of a deal between SpaceX and EchoStar. The agreement allows SpaceX to use radio frequencies for its mobile services, but some parts of the deal have yet to be finalized.
According to Qualcomm, the technology will work across multiple radio frequency ranges and let SpaceX expand its network gradually. Both companies also believe the project could help in the development of future 6G wireless technology. Qualcomm executive Durga Malladi said the project could also help to develop networks that use artificial intelligence to control connections and handle data more efficiently.
For now, the companies have not revealed the deal’s value, when the service will launch or which smartphones will be compatible with the new network. SpaceX still need to build thousands of sites and connect them with its satellite system before it can offer nationwide service. The expected launch in 2027 will be the first major phase of this plan.
