From PC Mag: SpaceX’s ambitions of turning Starlink Mobile into a nationwide wireless carrier—something it publicly ruled out in March—took another turn toward reality on Wednesday with Qualcomm’s announcement that it will supply network-infrastructure components for this nascent network.
This deal will have Qualcomm furnish Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 radio and processing units, plus Layer 1 radio-access-network software to support SpaceX’s Layer 2 and Layer 3 code, starting in 2027 for tens of thousands of cell sites that would complement Starlink’s satellite-based 5G service.
Telcos in overseas markets such as Vietnam have already put Dragonwing network gear into service, but this multi-year collaboration (financial terms were not disclosed) will be the first US deployment of 5G infrastructure under the brand Qualcomm unveiled in February 2025.
“This is the first time we have a US-based deployment that’s coming up,” said Durga Malladi, Qualcomm’s EVP and GM for technology planning, edge solutions, and data center, during a Monday press briefing. He added that it's the biggest 5G network deal Qualcomm has done.
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