STMicroelectronics Shipped Over 5 Billion Chips for Starlink Over 10 Years

STMicroelectronics has supplied more than 5 billion radio-frequency antenna chips used in SpaceX’s Starlink internet terminals since the two companies began working together nearly ten years ago, according to a senior executive at the European chipmaker.

The chips are installed in customer terminals on the ground, where they handle communication between user equipment and Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites. STMicro began supplying SpaceX around 2015, when Starlink was still in development, and volumes have grown steadily as the network expanded.

Remi El-Ouazzane, who heads STMicroelectronics’ microcontrollers and digital integrated circuits business, said the number of terminals produced over the past decade could be matched again within the next two years, reflecting continued growth in satellite internet deployments. He did not provide shipment forecasts.

The antenna chips are manufactured using BiCMOS technology, which combines bipolar and CMOS processes to support high-frequency data transmission. El-Ouazzane said similar chip designs are being considered by other companies developing low-Earth orbit satellite systems.

Starlink currently operates in more than 150 markets and reports about 8 million users worldwide, according to information published by SpaceX. The network is part of a broader expansion of commercial satellite broadband services, alongside projects led by Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Amazon.

The spread of these satellite networks has increased demand for semiconductors that can operate in harsh environments while handling large volumes of data. STMicroelectronics supplies components designed for such conditions across several space-related programs.

In addition to chips used in Starlink user terminals, STMicro is supplying components for SpaceX systems that enable satellites to exchange data directly through laser links. The company is also working with European aerospace groups, including Thales and Eutelsat, on satellite projects such as the European Union’s Iris² constellation.

STMicroelectronics’ role in these programs places the company among a small group of chipmakers supplying hardware used in large-scale commercial satellite networks.

Also Read: SpaceX Reaches $800 Billion Valuation and Outlines Plan for 2026 IPO