Starlink mobile 5G could deliver up to 150 Mbps even in the Arctic using “cell towers in space.”

Starlink plans to launch a global 5G phone service with download speeds up to 150 Mbps, about 50% higher than originally expected. SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy up to 15,000 direct-to-cell satellites, compared with roughly 650 currently in orbit.

After acquiring spectrum from EchoStar (formerly owned by DISH Network), Elon Musk said Starlink could launch an independent mobile network competing with operators like T-Mobile and Verizon.

The service will rely on next-generation V3 satellites, launched by SpaceX Starship. With solar arrays deployed, each V3 satellite will be about the size of a Boeing 737 and offer 20× the capacity of current satellites, delivering 1 Tbps download and 160 Gbps upload per satellite.

This capacity could enable gigabit Starlink internet and direct 5G connections to smartphones at up to 150 Mbps, without a dish - essentially turning satellites into “cell towers in the sky.”

Starlink also plans to use 2 GHz mobile satellite spectrum and future spectrum allocations after its deal with EchoStar closes in 2027. Support for the 3GPP n256 band suggests collaboration with chipset makers like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung Electronics to enable direct satellite connectivity in smartphones.

The network could provide 150 Mbps connectivity even in remote northern regions, including Arctic and sub-Arctic areas where terrestrial networks are absent.

Pricing for Starlink Mobile has not been announced yet, but the project could transform Starlink from a satellite internet provider into a global mobile operator competing directly with traditional carriers.