Qualcomm will build gear for SpaceX's own US phone network

Qualcomm will supply hardware for SpaceX's planned nationwide wireless network in the United States. Bloomberg Technology reports it as the latest sign that SpaceX, the rocket and satellite company led by Elon Musk, is serious about challenging the biggest players in US mobile service.

What changed

Until now, SpaceX has been known for rockets and satellites. This deal points to something more familiar to most people: a phone network. The planned network would run on the ground, not only from satellites in space. Qualcomm would provide hardware components for it. The report does not say which components.

Who it affects

Anyone who pays for a phone plan could be touched by this in time. The big US carriers have long dominated the market. A new rival with deep resources could push them to compete harder. That could mean more choice and better prices. Nothing about that is certain yet.

What is not known yet

• When the network might launch
• What plans would cost or where service would be offered
• How large the Qualcomm deal is or what exactly it covers
• Whether SpaceX would sell service directly to the public

What to do

Nothing right now. There is no plan to sign up for and no product to buy. If you are due to renew a phone contract, there is no reason to wait on this news. It is worth watching, though, because a new competitor is the kind of change that can eventually show up in your monthly bill.