Qualcomm secures major multiyear contract for SpaceX 5G network

QUALCOMM TO POWER SPACEX'S NEW NATIONWIDE 5G NETWORK $SPCX has selected $QCOM to supply the chips and software for Starlink Mobile's terrestrial 5G network, with deployment beginning in 2027 across tens of thousands of U.S. cell sites under a multiyear agreement. The goal is to build a fully integrated satellite and terrestrial network, combining Starlink's satellite coverage with traditional cell towers. This would put SpaceX in a position to compete more directly with established U.S. wireless carriers, including $VZ, $T and $TMUS. Qualcomm's Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms will power the network's base stations, supporting 64-transmit, 64-receive Massive MIMO technology. Qualcomm also sees the partnership as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for AI-native 6G infrastructure in the coming years. The scale of SpaceX's ambitions is significant. Mobile Experts analyst Joe Madden estimates the broader nationwide wireless expansion could cost at least $100B, including spectrum acquisitions. That is an estimate for SpaceX's overall network expansion, not the value of Qualcomm's contract, which has not been disclosed.