STMicroelectronics supplies billions of components for Starlink

For over a decade, the collaboration between STMicroelectronics and SpaceX has led to the development of billions of co-designed components. These solutions are now integrated into millions of Starlink user terminals and over 10,000 satellites in the constellation. According to a press release, Starlink currently has over 8 million users worldwide and provides service in more than 150 countries. The satellite network delivers broadband connectivity to residential and business customers via a low Earth orbit constellation. STMicroelectronics notes that its engineering teams in France and Italy have worked closely with SpaceX on designing key circuits. These chips are manufactured at ST's facilities in France and Malta, and subsequently assembled and tested in Malaysia. The collaboration has primarily focused on the BiCMOS semiconductor technology used in Starlink's phased array antennas. Both companies emphasize that this technology enables high-speed connections and the mass production of user terminals. SpaceX currently manufactures over 20,000 Starlink terminals daily and ships the hardware to customers globally. According to STMicroelectronics, its components have been crucial to achieving this production level. ST also supplies semiconductor products used in Starlink satellites, including the latest-generation V3 satellites, which offer over one terabit per second of fronthaul capacity. Finally, STMicroelectronics explains that it has developed, with Starlink as a key customer, a new manufacturing process based on PLP (panel level packaging) technology, aiming to meet exceptionally demanding requirements for volume and quality while maintaining competitive costs. The scaling of ST's PLP operations has already enabled a delivery rate exceeding 5 million chips per day, supporting Starlink's rapid expansion