There Is No Tesla Pi Phone - But Elon Musk Could Be Cooking Up A SpaceX Starlink Phone: Here's What We Know
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President, revealed key collaborations. 'We're working with chip manufacturers to get the proper chips in phones

Rumours of a groundbreaking Tesla Pi Phone have tantalised tech enthusiasts for years, promising seamless Starlink integration and revolutionary features under Elon Musk's vision. Yet, in 2025, Musk firmly debunks these myths, redirecting focus to SpaceX's audacious Starlink direct-to-cell service that embeds satellite connectivity into everyday mobiles.
As partnerships with chip makers accelerate, this satellite phone alternative could eradicate dead zones worldwide, blending SpaceX innovation with global mobile accessibility.
Debunking Persistent Tesla Pi Phone Rumours in 2025
Elon Musk has repeatedly dismissed speculation about a Tesla smartphone. In fact checks from early 2025, experts confirm no such device exists, with Musk stating Tesla prioritises vehicles over phones.
Viral claims of a £515 ($789) Pi Phone with built-in Starlink fizzled out, lacking any official backing. Instead, Musk emphasises SpaceX's role in enhancing existing devices.
This shift realises Musk's broader connectivity goals. Tesla fans yearning for a Pi Phone must pivot to Starlink's ecosystem. By mid-2025, the narrative evolved from fabrication to feasible satellite enhancements.
SpaceX Secures £11.08 Billion ($17 Billion) Spectrum Deal with EchoStar
SpaceX sealed a transformative acquisition on 8 September 2025. The £11.08 billion ($17 billion) purchase of wireless spectrum from EchoStar Corp bolsters Starlink's mobile ambitions. This H-block and AWS-4 assets enable direct satellite-to-phone links, targeting 5G rollout.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President, revealed key collaborations. 'We're working with chip manufacturers to get the proper chips in phones,' she noted on 16 September 2025. These integrations promise unmodified phones accessing orbital networks.
The deal amplifies throughput twentyfold. Early tests with T-Mobile demonstrated video chats via satellites 200 miles up. Users in remote California beaches connected effortlessly, hinting at broader 2025 rollouts.
Elon Musk Unveils Two-Year Timeline for Starlink Global Mobile Carrier
Musk envisions Starlink as a universal carrier by 2027. In a September 2025 interview, he outlined a two-year path for high-bandwidth phone links, enabling video streaming anywhere. 'You'll be able to watch videos anywhere on your phone,' Musk affirmed.
BREAKING: Elon Musk reveals SpaceX & Starlink aim to make mobile phones connect directly to Starlink satellites with new chipsets in ~2 years, enabling global high-bandwidth connectivity without regional carriers.
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) September 10, 2025
“You’ll be able to watch videos anywhere on your phone” pic.twitter.com/46OxlVH6k2
On 17 September 2025, Musk tweeted about version two satellites supporting medium-resolution video, replying to a T-Mobile Starlink review. This post, from his X account, garnered over 41,000 likes, underscoring public excitement .
Cool.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2025
Starlink satellite direct to phone version 2 constellation will be much better. Medium resolution video. https://t.co/oRajVw4Jpn
Beta programmes expanded in 2025. T-Mobile's T-Satellite, launched 23 July 2025, serves all carriers, eliminating dead zones for texts and calls. Partnerships with Rogers and Kyivstar extend reach.
Future constellations boast 100-fold capacity via custom silicon. Phased-array tech in next-gen satellites targets £413.7 billion ($635.2 billion) valuations in secondary markets. Adventurers and disaster responders gain lifeline connectivity.
Musk's strategy disrupts traditional carriers. By 2026, direct-to-cell testing leverages the EchoStar spectrum for apps like WhatsApp and Google Maps. No new hardware needed—just skyward gaze.
This evolution prioritises people over gadgets. Families in rural Britain or hikers in the Alps stay linked. Starlink's 650-plus satellites form the largest constellation, fostering safety. Critics question costs, but Musk counters with scalability. Initial bandwidth hits 10 megabits per beam, scaling exponentially. By 2027, voice and data flow seamlessly.
SpaceX's Chile SMS rollout on 9 May 2025 proved viability. Unmodified phones texted across terrains, averting emergencies. Global adoption follows. Investors eye £11.08 billion ($17 billion) impacts. Starlink's valuation surged 3.4 per cent in July 2025. Musk's pivot from Pi myths to orbital reality reshapes mobiles.
Consumers benefit most. Dead zones vanish, empowering remote workers and travellers. Starlink direct-to-cell heralds connected futures.
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