SpaceX is preparing its next satellite Internet move: a Starlink 5G chip built to fit inside future smartphones. Instead of bulky dishes or limited carrier deals, this approach could give iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxy devices direct links to Starlink’s satellites.

Starlink 5G rides on V3 satellites

The plan aligns with the rollout of Starlink V3 satellites, set to begin launching next year. Each new satellite will be about the size of a Boeing 737 and deliver 10 times the throughput of current V2 hardware, with capacity hitting 1 Tbps per satellite. SpaceX says peak network speeds could reach over 1 Gbps downloads and 160 Gbps uploads, though only enterprise dishes can handle that for now.

For phones, however, the direct-to-cell system will focus on more modest performance. Even so, SpaceX expects LTE Advanced–like speeds topping 100 Mbps. By comparison, today’s satellite-to-phone services remain far more limited, allowing only texting, images, and a handful of optimized apps like Google Maps.

Phones with Starlink chipsets to debut in 2026

Right now, devices like the Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 can access Starlink’s D2C (direct-to-cell) network, but only with add-on solutions. SpaceX wants to change that by embedding connectivity directly at the silicon level.

Here’s what the roadmap currently looks like:

• 2024–25: V3 satellites begin deployment
• 2026: First phones with integrated Starlink 5G chips enter testing
• 2027: Full V3 constellation complete, most flagship phones expected to support Starlink connectivity

According to President Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX is already working with Qualcomm, Apple, and MediaTek to integrate custom Starlink connectivity modems into upcoming chipsets. This would make the connection seamless across smartphones without depending on mobile carrier partnerships.

Dish spectrum powers the push

SpaceX’s effort is bolstered by its $17 billion acquisition of Dish spectrum, giving the company freedom to deploy Starlink 5G as a wholesale network. Rather than fighting carriers, SpaceX wants to sell capacity directly to them, or to end users through phone makers.

Starlink 5G changes the satellite phone equation

If successful, this move would mean satellite Internet that works anywhere your phone does, no external dish required. While speeds won’t match ground-based fiber, reaching 100 Mbps directly from space marks a massive leap over today’s limited messaging-only satellite services.

The Starlink 5G chip could reshape how we think about coverage gaps, making “no signal zones” harder to find. Whether you’re deep in the countryside, out at sea, or on a remote highway. The satellites are nearly ready. Now, it’s about getting the chip inside every phone.