FCC clears Amazon Leo to acquire mobile-satellite operator Globalstar

The FCC approved Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar. Globalstar operates mobile-satellite services and already supports Apple’s emergency satellite connectivity. The approval removes a major regulatory barrier to the deal.

The acquisition is intended to combine Leo’s growing satellite network with Globalstar’s existing space-based assets. Amazon says the combination will expand its satellite footprint and help it offer direct-to-device services. Those services can connect supported phones and watches through satellites.

The FCC said the companies’ complementary assets could create a stronger operator for fixed and mobile services. It also said the deal is likely to benefit the public by improving data coverage in underserved areas. As part of the transaction, Leo will power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models.

Direct-to-device satellite service connects compatible phones or watches straight to satellites overhead. It matters because a user can communicate where a traditional cellular tower is unavailable. The device sends and receives signals through the satellite network rather than through ordinary ground-based mobile infrastructure.

A phone or watch needs compatible hardware and software to identify and communicate with the satellite. The satellite relays the signal to a connected ground station or service network, which can then deliver the message or data. Globalstar already provides Apple’s emergency satellite connectivity for compatible iPhones and Watches.

The article presents Leo’s acquisition of Globalstar as a way to expand this capability. Leo will power satellite services for supported Apple devices. The deal could therefore help Leo enter the direct-to-device market while extending connectivity beyond areas covered by terrestrial networks.

Globalstar could strengthen Leo by adding complementary space-based assets and experience in mobile-satellite services. The FCC said those assets could help create a stronger operator offering both fixed and mobile services. That matters as Leo expands beyond regular satellite internet into direct connections with devices.

Globalstar already provides Apple’s emergency satellite connectivity for compatible iPhones and Watches. Apple held a 20 percent stake in Globalstar before the takeover. Under the deal, Leo will power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models, giving the acquisition an important existing customer and technology connection.

Leo can also combine Globalstar’s capabilities with its own growing satellite network. The article says Leo has reached 400 satellites in orbit and plans more than 3,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites. Together, these resources could broaden coverage and support residential, business, government, and mobile customers.

Amazon Leo’s planned network is designed to exceed 3,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites. SpaceX’s Starlink network has about 11,000 satellites, according to the article. Leo’s target is therefore less than one-third of Starlink’s stated size, showing that Starlink currently has a much larger constellation.

Leo has already announced 400 satellites in orbit. It also added six new Arianespace launches as it works toward its larger goal. A satellite constellation grows through repeated launches, allowing an operator to place more spacecraft around Earth and expand service capacity.

Leo remains a significant rival despite the size gap. It recently launched high-quality satellite internet service in Uzbekistan and is working with Delta to bring satellite internet to flights. The Globalstar acquisition could further expand Leo’s network and help it compete in mobile and direct-to-device services.

The FCC reviews satellite-industry acquisitions because these transactions can change who operates communications networks and how customers receive service. The regulator considers whether a deal serves the public interest. In this case, the FCC examined Amazon Leo’s proposed purchase of Globalstar and approved it.

The FCC highlighted the companies’ complementary assets. It said the combination could strengthen Leo’s entry into direct-to-device services and support fixed and mobile offerings for residential, business, and government customers. The regulator also noted Globalstar’s role in existing satellite connectivity for Apple devices.

Broader coverage can help people and organizations in places where terrestrial networks are limited. The FCC said the deal is likely to benefit the public by enhancing data coverage in underserved areas. That could make satellite services more available outside well-connected locations, although the article does not provide specific coverage or pricing estimates.

Remote areas are not limited to satellite connectivity. Depending on location, alternatives include fiber-optic lines, fixed wireless links, mobile networks, microwave connections, and community broadband systems. These options can provide internet without putting a satellite between the user and the wider communications network.

Satellite networks are especially useful when communities are far from existing infrastructure or separated by difficult terrain. A satellite can cover a broad area without requiring a continuous cable or a nearby cell tower. A compatible device or satellite terminal sends signals upward, and the satellite relays them through the operator’s network.

The article specifically emphasizes satellite coverage for underserved areas. It also describes Leo’s plans for residential, business, government, and mobile customers. Satellite services may therefore complement, rather than replace, ground networks. The best option depends on local geography, available infrastructure, service requirements, and cost.

A low-Earth-orbit, or LEO, network is a group of satellites circling Earth at relatively low altitudes. These satellites relay data between users, ground stations, and the operator’s wider network. Because each satellite moves quickly across the sky, the system uses many satellites rather than one spacecraft staying over a single location.

As one satellite moves away, another can come into view and continue the connection. Ground stations and network software coordinate these handoffs. A user may connect through a satellite terminal or, with direct-to-device service, through a compatible phone or watch. This arrangement can provide internet and mobile communications across wide areas.

Leo has announced 400 satellites in orbit and plans more than 3,000. Starlink has about 11,000, according to the article. These figures show why constellation scale matters: more satellites can support broader coverage and more continuous service, though performance also depends on equipment and network capacity.