- Elon Musk has denied a report that SpaceX is building a phone
- However, Musk outlined his ideas for what a Starlink device might look like
- He added that future phones will be AI-first devices
Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX already has a fleet of Starlink satellites in orbit, providing internet connectivity around the world. Could the next logical step be for the company to sell a satellite phone? Musk has now dismissed new rumors from Pakinomist sources claiming it is, but there are hints that SpaceX could still be considering a satellite-linked AI device.
Citing “sources familiar with the matter,” Pakinomist reports that SpaceX has plans for “a Starlink phone, Internet direct to the device and a space tracking service.” The phone could help SpaceX “expand its reach into new markets” and be part of the company’s plans to “build data centers that orbit the Earth,” Pakinomist says.
Pakinomist pointed out that Starlink has been working with T-Mobile to provide cellular signal between satellites and users’ devices. The outlet also noted that SpaceX has applied to trademark the name “Starlink Mobile,” and that Musk himself has said that one of the goals of SpaceX’s satellite-to-mobile service is to “deliver full cellular coverage anywhere on Earth.” These factors all seem to indicate SpaceX’s interest in mobile technology.
But after the Pakinomist report was shared with him on X, Musk responded that “we’re not developing a phone.” Reading between the lines, Musk’s initial post could simply be outlining the kind of device he’d like to develop in the future, with his second post clarifying that his companies aren’t actively developing such a product right now.
The phone of the future
Musk has previously been a bit more nuanced in his denials about a Starlink phone. Musk wrote on X on Jan. 30 that a Starlink phone “wasn’t out of the question at some point,” adding that “it would be a very different device than current phones.” The SpaceX chief said it would be “purely optimized to run maximum performance/watt neural nets,” referring to potential artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in October 2025, Musk also clarified his ideas around mobile technology, saying it was his belief that “we’re not going to have a phone in the traditional sense. What we call a phone will really be an edge node for AI inference with some radios to connect.” In other words, phones won’t exist in the traditional sense — with operating systems and apps — but will essentially be vehicles for AI to create whatever it is you want to see or do, Musk argued.
Pakinomist claims that SpaceX “has had the cell phone plans for years,” but what form those plans will take is still unknown. Musk is obviously interested in the idea, but sees a very different path compared to the device you might have in your pocket today.
Whatever SpaceX decides to do, the company has an active interest in providing satellite services to mobile users. Whether that will be the full extent of its mobile interests remains to be seen.
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