SpaceX is making moves to become the first AI carrier $SPCX
• Current cell towers are still mostly “dumb” radios. The Qualcomm deal is about making them AI-native.
• Edge inference at the tower, like an updated Akamai for AI
• Starlink Direct-to-Cell and V3 satellites alongside the terrestrial build
Qualcomm’s CEO said the SpaceX agreement is finalized — not an engagement. SpaceX will build the base stations. Qualcomm supplies the silicon and the RAN accelerator for a terrestrial network he called one of the largest 5G deployments in the United States, with an AI-native architecture.
SpaceX just got a massive FCC green light for Starlink Mobile
The FCC has approved SpaceX to launch and operate up to 15,000 next-generation satellites built for direct-to-phone connectivity
The new system is designed to:
• Target peak speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user
• Connect ordinary cell phones directly from space
• Operate in very low orbit at roughly 326–335 km
• Use T-Mobile spectrum alongside spectrum SpaceX is acquiring from EchoStar
• Deliver orders of magnitude more capacity than the first-generation Starlink Mobile constellation
SpaceX currently has roughly 650 dedicated mobile satellites in orbit
The FCC also granted a waiver giving SpaceX a path to provide satellite wireless service without requiring a spectrum-leasing agreement with a terrestrial mobile operator
Starlink Mobile is moving far beyond basic dead-zone connectivity
SpaceX is building toward a full 5G cellular network in space
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak, the first such declaration by a US state since cases began surging in 2025.
Huawei and Qualcomm have announced a multi-year, broad patent license agreement that includes cross licenses to the companies' patent portfolios across a range of fields, including 5G, compute, AI, and networking, together with Qualcomm's purchase of certain Huawei U.S. patents.