Qualcomm to Equip Starlink Mobile’s US Ground Network with 5G Technology at Tens of Thousands of Sites
Key Facts
SpaceX selected Qualcomm’s Dragonwing platforms to power its national 5G ground network, Starlink Mobile, in the United States, Axios reported on Nov. 4, 2026, citing Qualcomm. The multiyear deal covers tens of thousands of traditional cellular sites, moving the project into a phase of building a ground network alongside satellite connectivity services. Qualcomm said the initiative was its largest 5G program to date. The sites are expected to begin rolling out in 2027, according to the report. The financial terms of the deal and any contractual guarantees tied to it were not disclosed.
Qualcomm will provide the core chips and software for radio and baseband signal processing, while SpaceX will develop additional software and other network components, according to Axios. The division of roles means the deal covers core components of the site equipment, while SpaceX will develop parts of the software layer. Published information did not specify how much each company would invest or how contractual responsibilities would be allocated in detail. The contract value and any guarantees ensuring execution on a specified timeline were also not announced. The expected start of the rollout in 2027 remains the only stated timetable for the field phase.
Mobile Experts estimates that building the space and ground wireless network could cost SpaceX at least $100 billion, including the cost of acquiring spectrum, Axios reported. The estimate combines the costs of orbital infrastructure, ground facilities and spectrum, and is not limited to the site network covered by the Qualcomm deal. The figure comes in the context of a project that requires combining satellite coverage with traditional cellular communications. The two companies have not disclosed the value of their agreement, so the estimate does not specify Qualcomm’s share of expected spending. SpaceX has also not announced a final budget for the project in the published information.
Competing with incumbent telecom companies will require addressing coverage challenges in places such as stadiums, airports and buildings, according to Axios. Building a nationwide presence will also require sales, billing, distribution and customer support operations, alongside the technical infrastructure. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in August that the spectrum the company bought from EchoStar includes terrestrial use and that the company intends to build a ground network. Shotwell described building the necessary infrastructure as a step toward a "real mobile phone service." The remarks place the Qualcomm deal within a stated plan to expand Starlink from satellite connectivity to terrestrial cellular services.
In May 2026, SpaceX said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Starlink Mobile was operating across about 30 countries and covered about 1.9 billion people, with about 650 first-generation satellites in orbit, according to data as of March 31, 2026. The filing said the company expected to begin deploying second-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027. The company also said agreements signed with EchoStar in 2025 include the acquisition of 65 megahertz of spectrum in the United States. That acquisition is expected to be completed in November 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. This satellite coverage and spectrum provide context for the ground project, but do not eliminate the need to deploy traditional cellular sites.
SpaceX agreed to buy wireless spectrum licenses totaling 65 megahertz from EchoStar for $19.6 billion in two deals announced in 2025, Reuters reported in August 2026. Reuters said shares of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile fell between 1% and 2.4% in premarket trading on Wednesday, Aug. 5, following remarks about SpaceX’s ambitions in the mobile phone market. The agency cited analysts who said the shift to becoming a nationwide wireless carrier would require years of investment and execution. It added that the three largest U.S. telecom companies had spent hundreds of billions of dollars over three decades building networks and attracting and retaining subscribers. The next announced development in the project is the expected rollout of sites in 2027, alongside the plan to deploy second-generation satellites that year.