STMicroelectronics STM has shipped over 5 billion radio-frequency antenna chips to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink satellite network.
As reported by Reuters, a senior chipmaker from the company estimates that the chips delivered under the mutual partnership could be doubled in number by 2027.
STMicroelectronics is disclosing the scale of their fast-growing space contract that has become a driver for its specialized chip business.
The partnership is the result of the mutual deal since one of Europe’s largest chipmaking companies, STMicroelectronics CEO Jean Marc Chery, met Elon Musk 10 years ago.
Without giving any specific targets in an interview, President STMicro's microcontrollers and digital integrated circuits division Remi El-Ouazzane mentioned about the BiCMOS-based antenna chips used in Starlink user terminals.
He expressed, "I expect many lower-orbit satellite players to leverage the technology.”
As the space industry is shifting from government-led projects to a fast-growing commercial market, driven by companies like SpaceX, Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Amazon’s planned Leo network.
This boom is creating demand for specialized chips that can handle high data rates and survive harsh conditions in space.
With reference to that, STMicro will supply the upcoming inter-satellite laser links for SpaceX platforms and is working with European players such as Thales and Eutelsat on projects including the European Union’s planned Iris 2 satellite constellation.
The report, “Past 10 years of user terminals in terms of volume could actually double over the next two years,” indicates that the shipments driven by Starlink’s expansion, including next-gen V3 satellites, are expected to double by 2027.
The collaboration, spanning a decade, involves STMicro's BiCMOS-based chips for phased-array antennas in Starlink terminals, enabling high-speed internet for about 8 million users across 150+ markets.
