SpaceX has told Canada's telecom regulator, ISED, that it plans to expand its Starlink Mobile satellite network with thousands of new satellites by the end of 2028. The plan appears in an 11-page filing that also lays out the company's roadmap for connecting ordinary smartphones directly to satellites.
According to the filing, Starlink Mobile currently runs on 650 satellites. If the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approves the second-generation system, SpaceX says it could grow to as many as 15,000 satellites.
Next-Generation Satellites Targeted for Late 2027
SpaceX plans to begin launching its next-generation direct-to-device satellites in late 2027 and bring them into service around the same time, a timeline that matches projections the company has shared previously.
The rollout depends on SpaceX's Starship rocket, which is still in testing. The company expects Starship's higher carrying capacity to speed up satellite deployment by launching more satellites per flight.
SpaceX said it expects to offer life-saving data services by the third quarter of 2027, with voice call support following in the months after. By the end of 2028, the company aims to have deployed enough new satellites to provide continuous global coverage, including the first direct-to-phone satellite service reaching high-latitude polar regions.
Target of 150 Mbps on Unmodified Phones
The second-generation Starlink Mobile system is designed to deliver connection speeds of up to 150 Mbps on smartphones without any hardware changes. To achieve this, SpaceX plans to use radio frequencies it intends to acquire from EchoStar, a deal the company expects to close on November 30, 2027.
Reaching full capacity will require phone manufacturers to adopt the new frequency bands, and SpaceX says it has made significant progress on that front. The company said it is working with Apple, Samsung, Google and other manufacturers to ensure new devices support the necessary chipsets. Higher-powered satellites, improved beam-steering technology and a better connection budget should let the second-generation system deliver full voice, messaging and data service across a much wider range of phones. The first devices with native support are expected to launch commercially in late 2027, and SpaceX said how quickly the upgraded service spreads will depend on how fast consumers buy the new compatible phones.
Not a Replacement for Mobile Carriers
SpaceX said the service will not replace traditional mobile operators. The company does not plan to launch its own independent mobile carrier service or strike an exclusive deal with a single operator. Instead, it plans to open the Starlink Mobile infrastructure to any mobile operator that wants to offer the service.
