SpaceX targets Starlink mobile satellite service for H1 2028

TL;DR: SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen said at Goldman Sachs' Communacopia + Technology Conference last week that Starlink mobile satellite service for smartphones is planned for the first half of 2028. He also said SpaceX has not decided whether to build its own terrestrial wireless network or work with existing US carriers.

SpaceX said last week that it plans to launch Starlink mobile satellite service to smartphones in the first half of 2028. Bret Johnsen, SpaceX's CFO, said the company will deploy a new constellation of direct-to-device low-Earth orbit satellites throughout next year using Starship. The H1 2028 target is later than the company's previous end-2027 target stated in early August.

Johnsen said SpaceX can launch Starlink mobile services in the United States using midband spectrum acquired from EchoStar. He said the spectrum already has FCC approval for both direct-from-space and terrestrial capability in the US, and that SpaceX could either build terrestrial infrastructure if needed or work with existing carriers.

SpaceX did not commit to a terrestrial network plan at the conference. Johnsen said the company is keeping its options open on what additional assets it may need, while earlier management comments had described a plan involving rooftop small cells alongside Starlink broadband dishes.

SpaceX said its direct-to-device mobile plan depends on Starship launches. Johnsen said Starship Flight 14 later this month will carry production V3 satellites for Starlink broadband, and that next-generation direct-to-device satellites based on the V3 model are scheduled to begin launching next year.