According to reports, SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is working with partners to embed chips into smartphones to support Starlink Direct to Device (D2D) services, which will be implemented through wireless spectrum purchased from EchoStar.  

According to Bloomberg, SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell revealed at a space conference held in Paris yesterday (September 16) that the company is collaborating with chip companies.  

Musk recently explained that manufacturers need about two years to modify their chips to adapt to the AWS-4 spectrum, while also needing time to build satellites that can use it.  

T-Mobile US is providing its PCS G-block to SpaceX's Starlink satellite, which is currently used for the operator's T-Satellite SMS service.  

Musk has not ruled out the possibility of other mobile operators obtaining the right to use Starlink satellites and providing similar services after the expiration of their agreement with T-Mobile.  

However, since SpaceX reached an agreement earlier this month to purchase EchoStar's AWS-4 spectrum, the mobile industry has been nervous about Musk creating competitive D2D services.  

Shotwell told Bloomberg that SpaceX "will now engage in discussions with telecom companies in different ways.  

She explained to the news website, "Now this is our spectrum, but we hope to collaborate with them to provide almost capacity and wholesale capacity for their customers

She told Bloomberg that SpaceX plans to conduct D2D phone testing by the end of 2026.  

The news publication pointed out that SpaceX still needs a ground mobility license to activate its D2D services, which seems to be the reason why it is willing to establish more partnerships with mobile operators.