SpaceX plans to build a nationwide terrestrial 5G network in the U.S. for its Starlink Mobile service, deploying tens of thousands of base stations from 2027 through a new collaboration with Qualcomm.The Elon-Musk led space transportation company has picked Qualcomm’s Dragonwing cellular infrastructure platforms to support the network.. The technology will combine high-capacity radio and baseband processing with power-efficient computing to support large-scale cellular deployments.Under the multi-year agreement, Qualcomm will supply its Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, along with commercial-grade Layer 1 software for SpaceX’s planned nationwide terrestrial wireless network. The collaboration will support SpaceX’s development of an end-to-end base station architecture for its terrestrial network.The move expands SpaceX’s connectivity strategy beyond its satellite constellation. Starlink Mobile plans to combine terrestrial cellular infrastructure with satellite connectivity to provide a more integrated network for users across the US.Massive MIMO boosts capacityA key component of the planned network is Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology, which uses multiple transmitters and receivers to improve wireless communication.Starlink Mobile will deploy radio units with 64 transmit and 64 receive paths, known as 64T64R. The configuration is designed to improve network coverage, increase capacity and make more efficient use of available radio spectrum.Massive MIMO uses multiple antenna elements to direct radio signals towards users, rather than broadcasting them uniformly in every direction. This technique, known as beamforming, can help networks serve more users and handle greater data traffic within a given area.SpaceX has selected Qualcomm #Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure solutions to support @Starlink Mobile’s nationwide terrestrial 5G network in the U.S. https://t.co/Up7LxbQz5o— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) November 4, 2026Qualcomm’s QRU100 platform will provide integrated processing for the Massive MIMO radio units. Its QDU100 platform will handle Layer 1 processing, which manages the physical transmission and reception of data over cellular networks.The two platforms are designed to improve performance per watt across radio and distributed-unit processing. This could help reduce the energy requirements and operating costs associated with deploying and running thousands of cellular base stations.Network targets 2027 rolloutSpaceX plans to begin the nationwide deployment in 2027, with tens of thousands of sites expected to be installed over the multi-year agreement. The companies have not disclosed the financial terms of their collaboration.The planned infrastructure will complement Starlink’s satellite network, which provides connectivity in areas where conventional terrestrial networks have limited reach. Ground-based cellular stations could help deliver additional coverage and capacity, particularly in populated areas where satellite connectivity alone may not meet demand.The announcement also marks a commercial step towards Qualcomm and SpaceX’s longer-term vision for AI-native sixth-generation (6G) wireless infrastructure.Although the initial deployment will focus on 5G, Qualcomm said the platforms offer an adaptable foundation for future connectivity technologies and more intelligent network operations.For SpaceX, the partnership provides access to specialized radio and baseband technology as it develops its terrestrial network. For Qualcomm, the deal expands its role beyond mobile-device processors into large-scale telecommunications infrastructure.The companies have not provided a detailed deployment schedule or specified how many sites will become operational in the first phase.