SpaceX is reportedly laying the groundwork for what could be its next big leap: a satellite-linked mobile device under the Starlink banner. Sources familiar with the company’s plans say that it is exploring the idea of building a phone that taps directly into its Starlink satellite constellation, a move that could take its connectivity push far beyond the current broadband market.
According to Reuters, SpaceX is considering a mobile device that connects directly to Starlink’s network. The specifics on design or timing remain unclear, but CEO Elon Musk has hinted such a device is “not out of the question at some point” and would be “very different” from current smartphones, optimized for high-performance AI computing.
Starlink has already experimented with bringing its service to mobile phones via partnerships like the one with T-Mobile, but producing a dedicated Starlink phone would mark a significant expansion.
The report notes that SpaceX filed to trademark “Starlink Mobile” last October and earlier this year filed patents for “technologies that seek to improve Starlink’s ability to connect with small and moving devices on land that are not just Starlink user terminals,” lending credibility to the speculation.
Musk denies plans for a Starlink phone
Although Musk has previously suggested a Starlink phone could be possible in the future, he pushed back on the report in recent tweets.
Responding to X users sharing the story, he said, “We are not developing a phone,” going so far as to call the report a lie in a separate tweet.
At this point, SpaceX has not made anything official, leaving the idea of a Starlink phone unconfirmed. The company is currently focusing on expanding its satellite network and broadband services, which already serve millions of users worldwide. A mobile device could help it unlock a new market and reach more users, but whether such a product will ever be released remains uncertain.