SpaceX携手高通部署Starlink Mobile：数万基站剑指全美组网

SpaceX signed a deal with Qualcomm to use the chipmaker’s Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure offering for Starlink Mobile’s nationwide mobile network rollout in the US, while agreeing to collaborate on AI-native 6G infrastructure. Qualcomm stated Starlink Mobile will use its Massive MIMO radio units to bring advanced antenna capabilities to its terrestrial network, while also improving coverage, capacity and spectral efficiency. It will deploy a combination of radio equipment, baseband units and software to support cellular base station deployment at scale, “with tens of thousands of sites deployed over the multi-year agreement”. It is the latest sign Elon Musk’s SpaceX is mounting a serious challenge to traditional operators, with the company planning for nationwide deployment of Starlink Mobile in 2027. Durga Malladi, EVP and GM, Technology Planning, Edge Solutions and Data Centre at Qualcomm, told Bloomberg the number of planned installations by Starlink Mobile will rival those deployed by major operators. On SpaceX’s intentions, he reportedly added that the company was “very committed and serious. Our degree of confidence is extremely high”. Malladi added in a statement the pair would work to lay the foundations for AI-native 6G in the years ahead. Qualcomm further explained while this deployment was focused on terrestrial 5G, its energy efficient processing and open, evolvable architecture “establishes a foundation for future connectivity and intelligence”. Michael Nicolls, SVP of Starlink, said the deal with Qualcomm was helping it to build “a fully-integrated nationwide satellite and terrestrial network that will keep people connected no matter where they are”. International scale Luke Pearce, principal analyst at FDM CCS Insight, said the deal was consistent with what the firm has been predicting: “a conventional terrestrial network will need to complement satellite direct-to-device (D2D) services.” He added the joint project will be a huge undertaking and the end product “will need to be competitive enough to justify the scale of investment”. He continued: “If it works in the US, this hybrid model could scale internationally for Starlink and potentially be adopted by other satellite operators or smaller MNOs. It also creates significant opportunities for accelerating the uptake of open RAN and 6G, benefitting Qualcomm.” The post SpaceX taps Qualcomm to power Starlink Mobile in US appeared first on Mobile World Live .