Musk: Starlink mobile network buildout to take 2-3 years

The two-to-three-year timeline is the most concrete signal yet on when Starlink's direct-to-cell service could reach full buildout, and it reframes the project as a multi-year infrastructure effort rather than an imminent product. That matters for terrestrial mobile operators weighing how soon satellite coverage becomes a competitive or complementary factor in underserved areas. With coverage, partners and cost left unaddressed, the open questions are how the network's footprint and carrier relationships take shape, and whether the stated timeline holds as construction proceeds.