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Direct-to-device satellite bid
Amazon has asked the Federal Communications Commission for approval to launch up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites to build a direct-to-device communications network that would connect smartphones and other devices without relying on traditional cell towers.
“Key takeaways - Amazon Leo has proposed a new constellation of up to 5,105 satellites to connect compatible mobile devices directly from space”
About AmazonThe proposed system would combine Amazon’s infrastructure with Globalstar’s satellites and spectrum, and Amazon said it plans to begin deployment in 2028.
About AmazonIn its FCC filing, Amazon targeted users who are "unserved or underserved" by existing wireless providers, and it also described support for emergency operations like search and rescue.
Amazon’s plan is tied to its acquisition of Globalstar, a deal valued at approximately $11.6 billion that CNBC said Amazon announced in April and expects to close in 2027.
The Verge reported that Amazon’s FCC application seeks a constellation of 5,105 satellites for "voice, messaging, data, and emergency services," with deployment beginning in 2028 if approved.
Globalstar spectrum and Apple
Amazon’s direct-to-device network is designed to use Globalstar’s spectrum, and The Verge said Amazon’s new constellation would "use Globalstar’s spectrum" for direct-to-cell service.
PCMag added that the Leo D2D system is meant to support a wide range of device models with "satellite-capable chipsets built in," while also noting that it is unclear how Amazon might offer and price the satellite connectivity.
ADSLZoneAmazon said it intends to "collaborate with Apple on future satellite services using the expanded network," as it builds on the Globalstar relationship that supports Apple’s emergency SOS via satellite feature.
Boursorama reported that the FCC application would use Globalstar’s mobile satellite spectrum and that the FCC had not made an immediate comment.
The Verge also said Amazon plans to partner with mobile network operators, similar to Starlink’s partnership with T-Mobile, as it tries to extend connectivity beyond terrestrial coverage.
Race, milestones, and rivals
The proposed Amazon Leo D2D system would place Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, which CNBC said offers direct-to-cell service via T-Mobile in the U.S.
“Amazon has presented in more detail its direct satellite service to mobile devices, with a clear ambition: to deploy up to 5,105 satellites in low Earth orbit”
App4PhoneCNBC reported that Amazon has more than 390 satellites in orbit and that it recently said it is enough to begin "initial service" later this year.
Amazon’s deployment timeline is also shaped by FCC milestones, and CNBC said the FCC granted a waiver from a requirement to deploy 1,600 first-generation satellites by July 30 while Amazon still must launch all 3,232 satellites by July 2029.
MLQ.ai described the application as seeking authority for up to 5,105 satellites in five shells at altitudes of 510, 540, 560, 570 and 580 kilometers, and it said the D2D system would be separate from Amazon’s 3,232-satellite Gen1 broadband network.
In the broader competitive landscape, CNBC said Amazon’s D2D network would compete with SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, while the filing also pointed to worksites, fleets and supply chains that are remote or harder for terrestrial networks to reach.
