STMicroelectronics and SpaceX celebrate a decade-long partnership key to Starlink global connectivity
MWN-AI** Summary
STMicroelectronics and SpaceX recently celebrated a decade-long partnership that has proven essential for the global connectivity offered by Starlink. This collaboration has centered around the co-design of custom-engineered semiconductor chips tailored for satellite communication, revolutionizing broadband access through low Earth orbit satellites for homes and businesses. Starlink's innovative products are crafted jointly by STMicroelectronics engineers in France and Italy, with manufacturing facilities across France, Malta, and Malaysia.
The partnership has resulted in billions of chips, including ST's BiCMOS technology, which is integral to Starlink's advanced phased-array antennas. These antennas enable reliable high-speed internet access for over 8 million users in more than 150 countries. As SpaceX's Starlink service continues to expand, producing over 20,000 terminals daily, STMicroelectronics plays a critical role in scaling production to meet a surging demand for connectivity.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's President and COO, highlighted the collaborative efforts that have allowed them to fulfill their ambitious mission, emphasizing the importance of this alliance for delivering high-speed internet to underserved regions, thus enhancing opportunities in education and healthcare.
Similarly, Remi El-Ouazzane, from STMicroelectronics, praised their shared vision and the technical achievements, noting their focus on next-generation equipment and manufacturing efficiency. The introduction of panel-level packaging (PLP) technology has notably improved production capabilities, facilitating a delivery of over 5 million chips daily.
Moving forward, STMicroelectronics and SpaceX's partnership aims to continue innovating and advancing satellite and user terminal technologies, reflecting a commitment to delivering transformative connectivity solutions globally. As both companies persist in pushing the boundaries of technology, they remain dedicated to making reliable internet access a reality for an increasing number of users worldwide.
MWN-AI** Analysis
STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) and SpaceX's decade-long partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of global broadband connectivity. The collaboration has led to the production of advanced BiCMOS chips, critical for the performance of Starlink’s phased-array antennas. As Starlink services expand, now boasting over 8 million users across 150 countries, the synergy between these two firms highlights the robust demand for high-speed satellite internet.
Investors should note the strategic value this partnership brings to STMicroelectronics. The company has established itself as a leader in the semiconductor space, particularly for applications in satellite communications. Their unique manufacturing capabilities, including a proprietary panel-level packaging technology, position ST to effectively meet the mounting demands of Starlink’s growing infrastructure. With a run rate of over 5 million chips produced daily, ST is not only generating substantial revenue from this collaboration but is also diversifying its portfolio, mitigating risks associated with more traditional semiconductor markets.
Further, SpaceX’s commitment to scaling Starlink operations, alongside ST's ongoing engineering and manufacturing enhancements, reinforces a long-term growth trajectory for both companies. The potential for next-generation satellite technology and user terminals underlines a continued evolution in connectivity solutions, expanding market opportunities in education, healthcare, and businesses in unserved regions.
From a financial perspective, STMicroelectronics appears well-positioned for sustained growth and profitability. Their innovative technology and operational efficiencies suggest a solid investment opportunity, particularly as the demand for satellite communication accelerates in a world increasingly reliant on internet connectivity.
In conclusion, analysts and investors should closely monitor the developments stemming from this partnership, as it stands to redefine connectivity in the coming years and underscores the critical role of semiconductor technology in the global economy.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
STMicroelectronics and SpaceX celebrate a decade-long partnership
key to Starlink global connectivity
- A decade of innovation with custom-made chips has enabled a new industry with broadband connectivity for homes and businesses using low Earth orbit satellites.
- Starlink products are co-designed with ST engineers located in France and Italy and manufactured in fabs located in France, Malta and Malaysia.
- ST’s BiCMOS chip technology is leveraged for Starlink high-performing phased-array antennas delivering high-speed internet to over 8 million customers in more than 150 countries.
- Collaboration continues with a focus on ramping up ongoing designs and next-generation satellites and user terminals.
Starbase, Texas, United States & Geneva, Switzerland – December 15, 2025 – As Starlink surpasses 8 million users of its network and terminals for home and business broadband access, STMicroelectronics, (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and SpaceX celebrate ten years of collaboration driving innovation with co-design of custom-made components for satellite communication. Over the past decade, the collaboration has produced billions of co-designed products used in millions of Starlink user terminals in addition to over 10,000 Starlink satellites, including Starlink’s latest V3 satellite, which provides more than 1 Tbps of fronthaul throughput.
The Starlink user terminal is the first and only consumer electronics phased array antenna, that delivers reliable high-speed internet by connecting to thousands of Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. Designed for self-install, Starlink is set up with just two steps, plug it in, point at the sky. SpaceX has pioneered high-rate manufacturing of these complex antennas while maintaining robust supply chain operations and ensuring the timely delivery of Starlink hardware to its expanding global customer base. Today, Starlink produces over 20,000 terminals per day for shipment to customers in more than 150 countries. ST products have been critical to allow SpaceX to scale production to meet the growing demand for Starlink connectivity globally.
“Our partnership with STMicroelectronics has been instrumental in enabling the scale and performance of Starlink. We are excited to continue this journey with ST to deliver the next generation connectivity solutions that make high-speed internet available to more people, helping improve education, healthcare, and business opportunities in places that never had reliable internet before” emphasized Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO at SpaceX.
“We are proud to celebrate a decade of collaboration with SpaceX. From initial concept to high-volume manufacturing, our close collaboration has been instrumental in realizing SpaceX’s vision and meeting their very ambitious mission. Through co-designing key chips, providing engineering services and delivering high-volume manufacturing, we demonstrate the exceptional value of ST’s innovation and manufacturing capabilities. While supplying billions of products annually for Starlink user terminals, we also contribute critical technologies to in-orbit systems onboard Starlink satellites, underscoring ST’s longstanding expertise in space-grade applications.” said Remi El-Ouazzane, President, Microcontrollers, Digital ICs, and RF Products Group at STMicroelectronics.
Starlink products are co-designed with ST engineers located in France and Italy, manufactured in fabs located in France and packaged and tested in Malaysia and Malta. The collaboration has focused on products based on BiCMOS technology, for which ST developed a new manufacturing process with Starlink as lead customer around PLP (panel level packaging) technology to meet the very challenging requirements in terms of volume and quality at competitive costs. The scaling of ST’s PLP operations has already enabled a delivery run rate of over 5 million chips per day to meet the fast ramp-up of Starlink’s operations. In addition, Starlink is also using multiple ST products including STM32, secure elements, GNSS across its broadband satellites’ constellation, direct-to-cell satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals.
The collaboration continues beyond this milestone, built on the same deeply collaborative model and focused on next-generation satellites and user terminals. It centers on advancing new generations of key enabling technologies for phased-array antennas powered by ST’s BiCMOS-based solutions.
About Starlink
Starlink is the world’s most advanced satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit, delivering reliable broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, and the only provider with an orbital class reusable rocket – SpaceX has deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations. Learn more at www.starlink.com and follow @Starlink on X
About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com
For more information, please contact:
SPACEX
https://www.spacex.com/updates
STMicroelectronics
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Jérôme Ramel
EVP Corporate Development & Integrated External Communication
Tel: +41.22.929.59.20
jerome.ramel@st.com
MEDIA RELATIONS
Alexis Breton
Group VP Corporate External Communications
Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
alexis.breton@st.com
Attachment
FAQ**
How has the collaboration between STMicroelectronics (STMEF) and SpaceX evolved over the past decade in terms of technology development and production capabilities for Starlink?
What specific innovations in BiCMOS chip technology has STMicroelectronics (STMEF) contributed to enhance Starlink's phased-array antennas for global connectivity?
How does the partnership between STMicroelectronics (STMEF) and SpaceX ensure the quality and reliability of the more than 20,000 Starlink user terminals produced daily?
In what ways is STMicroelectronics (STMEF) planning to leverage its expertise in semiconductor manufacturing to support future developments in Starlink’s next-generation satellites?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Stmicroelectronics (OTC: STMEF).
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