Starlink Mobile: All the news on SpaceX's mobile carrier ambitions

SpaceX has officially declared its ambition to turn Starlink Mobile into a major mobile carrier. While the Elon Musk-owned company has already deployed thousands of direct-to-cell satellites, its next massive challenge involves building out a terrestrial 5G network on Earth.

• SpaceX inked a deal with Qualcomm to deploy cellular tech across tens of thousands of 5G sites starting in 2027.
• The company acquired low-band spectrum licenses, including the 800 MHz band, for better indoor signal penetration.
• Discussions are underway regarding a potential acquisition of Boost Mobile and access to 80,000 cell towers via Crown Castle.

To directly challenge telecom giants AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, SpaceX is heavily investing in ground infrastructure. Last week, the company agreed to buy a major chunk of low-band spectrum. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell emphasized that the company intends to combine satellite capacity with a robust buildout of terrestrial hardware and systems.

As part of its multi-year strategy, SpaceX is teaming up with Qualcomm to bring Dragonwing technology to tens of thousands of US cell sites starting in 2027. Reports also indicate that SpaceX has discussed acquiring or accessing Boost Mobile and is in talks with Crown Castle to potentially tap into 80,000 cell towers across the country.

The telecom industry is closely watching these moves. Tim Höttges, CEO of T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom, stated he takes SpaceX's plans very seriously, though he estimated it could cost over $200 billion to execute. Combining a direct-to-cell satellite constellation with terrestrial cell towers could reshape the US wireless market.