SpaceX Selects Qualcomm Dragonwing Platform to Build Nationwide 5G Network for Starlink Mobile in the U.S.

on November 4, that according to an official Qualcomm announcement, SpaceX has selected Qualcomm’s Dragonwing cellular infrastructure platform to support Starlink Mobile’s nationwide terrestrial 5G network in the United States. The partnership will leverage the Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, combined with Massive MIMO technology and commercial-grade Layer 1 software, to enhance network coverage, capacity, and spectral efficiency.

According to the deployment plan, SpaceX will launch its nationwide network rollout across the United States in 2027 and construct tens of thousands of base stations throughout the multi-year cooperation period. Starlink Mobile will utilize Massive MIMO radio units equipped with 64 transmit and 64 receive channels (64T64R) to improve network capacity and energy efficiency.

Qualcomm noted that this collaboration also marks a commercial step toward their joint vision for AI-native 6G infrastructure, with current deployment priorities remaining focused on terrestrial 5G networks.