SpaceX announced a multiyear deal with Qualcomm to supply cellular network technology for its Starlink Mobile service in the United States, CNBC reported Wednesday¹.

Qualcomm said the terrestrial network it will help SpaceX build will complement Starlink's satellite capabilities, with a planned rollout to begin next year¹. Financial terms were not disclosed¹.

CNBC said Starlink Mobile is positioned as a challenger to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile¹. Qualcomm described the agreement as its largest 5G initiative to date, according to the report¹.

Durga Malladi, an executive vice president at Qualcomm, said in a statement that the companies are building cellular infrastructure in the United States and advancing 5G, with a longer-term opening toward 6G¹.

Starlink accounted for 36% of SpaceX revenue in the third quarter and 85% of operating profit, CNBC reported, citing the company's results¹. Direct-to-device mobile service has been limited because satellites cannot match the voice, video and data coverage of terrestrial smartphone networks, the report said¹.

Last month SpaceX announced an agreement to buy a nationwide spectrum portfolio in the 800 MHz band¹. Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported SpaceX is in talks to acquire EchoStar's Boost Mobile, CNBC said¹. SpaceX went public in June and is valued at close to $2 trillion, according to CNBC¹.

SpaceX will use Qualcomm's Dragonwing cellular infrastructure hardware and software in base stations for high-capacity Starlink Mobile coverage, CNBC reported¹. Qualcomm is better known for device modems than base stations but has pursued 5G infrastructure since 2020, with earlier deals involving Verizon, Dish and Vodafone, the report said¹.

SpaceX plans tens of thousands of new cell sites but has not named tower partners or how many new towers it may need, CNBC said¹. Carriers typically lease space from firms such as American Tower and Crown Castle¹. SpaceX did not respond to CNBC's request for additional information¹.