“Starlink Mobile” Patent Spurs Space Service Speculation
SpaceX may has taken a(nother) formal step toward becoming a space-based mobile carrier, filing a “Starlink Mobile” trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that explicitly covers real-time voice, data, audio, and video transmission to phones and smart devices via satellite networks.
The filing gives the strongest signal yet that SpaceX’s intends to offer its own direct-to-device (D2D) 5G-class services, positioning Starlink as a potential competitor to terrestrial operators in the US - and potentially beyond.
The scope of the trademark points to a full mobile service offering two-way, real-time communications, not just emergency messaging or SMS fallback, marking a step beyond limited NTN offerings Starlink currently support for Operators and Governments today.
The move also aligns with SpaceX’s acquisition of two spectrum bundles from EchoStar in 2025; a major AWS-4 + H-Block package in September, (~$17B) and a follow-up AWS-3 package (~$2.6B) in November. These airwaves strengthen Starlink’s direct-to-phone / mobile connectivity plans by giving SpaceX its own licensed mid-band spectrum - a viable terrestrial+/satellite hybrid footprint for mobile services.
SpaceX is already working with Qualcomm, MediaTek and other chipset vendors to embed Starlink-compatible NTN modems into future smartphones. Testing is expected to begin in 2026, with consumer devices aligned to the launch of the V3 constellation.
With plans to deploy 15,000+ Starlink V3 satellites starting in 2026 on Starship 3, SpaceX’s next-gen spacecraft are thought to be:
the size of a Boeing 737 with solar arrays deployed
able to deliver 20× capacity of current Starlink satellites
able to support direct-to-cell 5G-grade links
Starlink is expected to offer up to 100 Mbps D2D downlink speed, far above today’s satellite messaging services, but below terrestrial 5G, representing a major step forward for NTN broadband.
If these speculations are realised, Starlink Mobile could become a nationwide carrier alternative in the US, providing coverage everywhere cell towers are absent while operating natively on mainstream smartphones.
Commercial service could align with the completion of its V3 constellation in 2027.