The two Qualcomm platforms divide the work inside each site. The QRU100 gives the Massive MIMO radio units highly integrated processing and supports the radio functions behind the 64T64R design, while the QDU100 handles Layer 1 processing that Qualcomm describes as high-performance, efficient and latency-sensitive.
Qualcomm said the pair is designed to raise performance per watt across both the radio and the distributed-unit processing, and that the energy savings should improve the economics of deploying the network at scale. On a build planned across tens of thousands of sites, power use per base station could become a meaningful factor in running costs.
The chipmaker also presented the agreement as a commercial step toward a broader vision it shares with SpaceX for AI-native 6G infrastructure. It said the Dragonwing radio unit and distributed unit components will give Starlink a flexible base for a multi-band network built in several rollout waves. This deployment is focused on terrestrial 5G, Qualcomm noted, though it argued the open, evolvable architecture and energy-efficient processing lay groundwork for future connectivity and intelligence.
Durga Malladi, EVP & GM, Technology Planning, Edge Solutions, and Data Center, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: “Building a nationwide network demands high performance and power efficiency at every site. Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure platforms bring together advanced Massive MIMO, purpose-built processing and commercial-grade Layer 1 software to help Starlink deliver an exceptional nationwide network.”
He added: “Together with SpaceX, we are building world-leading cellular infrastructure in the United States, advancing 5G today, with an opportunity to lay the foundation for AI-native 6G in the years ahead.”
Michael Nicolls, Senior Vice President of Starlink, added: “We shouldn’t live in a time where phone calls are still dropping whether you’re at home or on-the-go. Starlink is building the first fully-integrated nationwide satellite and terrestrial network that will keep people connected no matter where they are. We’re excited to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies and leverage their industry expertise and platform to accelerate our timeline to develop our base station end-to-end architecture.”
Spectrum purchases underpin both halves of the plan. In September 2025, EchoStar agreed to sell its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses to SpaceX for approximately $17 billion, split between as much as $8.5 billion in cash and as much as $8.5 billion in SpaceX shares.
In October, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized SpaceX to launch and operate 15,000 satellites for services that connect directly to mobile devices. The agency also waived a requirement for SpaceX to lease spectrum from a ground-based operator for certain operations in the AWS-3 and AWS-H bands. Separately, SpaceX agreed to buy Grain Management’s nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to support Starlink Mobile coverage from the ground and from space. The deal remains subject to FCC approval.
Starlink Mobile currently operates 650 satellites in low-Earth orbit and works with operators including T-Mobile in the U.S., Rogers in Canada and KDDI in Japan. In the Gulf, the UAE regulator granted Starlink a 10-year General Space Services License in August, widening an earlier maritime-only authorization.
The Starlink contract adds to Qualcomm’s infrastructure business beyond phones, after the chipmaker struck a long-term collaboration with Amazon in September on custom AI inference chips and optical connectivity for its data centers. SpaceX’s first Qualcomm-powered base stations are scheduled to go up in 2027, while the Grain spectrum purchase awaits a decision from the FCC.
