SpaceX, Qualcomm team up to build a Starlink Mobile 5G network

SpaceX has partnered with Qualcomm in order to build out a 5G mobile network.

Under a new multi-year deal, SpaceX will bring Qualcomm’s Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure tech to what is described as “tens of thousands” of 5G cell towers across the U.S., with the first deployments set for 2027.

With the Qualcomm partnership, SpaceX will use Dragonwing to boost network coverage, capacity, and efficiency. As expected, SpaceX will pair this technology with its satellite constellation.

This essentially means that the aeronautics company is pushing to make Starlink Mobile a major carrier in the U.S., with intentions to compete directly with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon.

According to The Verge, the company has already bought a large number of spectrum licenses, and other recent reports note that it was actively exploring a purchase of U.S. telecom company Boost Mobile.

While the news is U.S.-focused, it’s notable since SpaceX is partnered with Rogers in Canada, with the carrier using Starlink to power its satellite-to-mobile features. It’ll be interesting to see what SpaceX’s carrier push will mean for that partnership, or what a Starlink Mobile could mean for the broader Canadian telecom industry.

This news comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared a desire to move away from Starlink.

Source: Qualcomm via The Verge

Image Credit: Qualcomm