Amazon is spending more than $11.5 billion to buy satellite operator Globalstar, its biggest push yet into the space-based internet business as it tries to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink.
Under the deal announced Tuesday, Globalstar’s low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of 24 satellites will operate alongside Amazon Leo’s broadband network and its planned direct-to-device satellite system. Amazon also inherits Globalstar’s infrastructure and mobile satellite services spectrum licenses.
“By combining Globalstar’s proven expertise and strong foundation with Amazon’s customer-obsession and innovation, customers can expect faster, more reliable service in more places,” Panos Panay, Amazon’s senior vice president of devices and services, said in a statement.
Globalstar shareholders can choose to receive either $90 in cash for each of their shares or a swap for Amazon stock, according to the companies. The transaction is expected to close next year, subject to regulatory approval and certain deployment milestones.
The acquisition also comes with a parallel agreement involving Apple, which invested about $1.5 billion in Globalstar in 2024, including a 20 percent stake, to help expand the company’s satellite constellation and ground infrastructure. Globalstar currently supports satellite features on iPhone 14 and newer devices, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 3, including Emergency SOS via satellite and other off-grid services.
As part of the new arrangement, Amazon and Apple said Amazon Leo will provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.
“Apple and Amazon have a long and proven track record of working together through Amazon’s core infrastructure services, and we look forward to building on that collaboration with Amazon Leo,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said in the statement.
Amazon said it plans to begin deploying its own next-generation direct-to-device system in 2028. That would allow the company to offer voice, data, and messaging services directly to mobile phones and other cellular devices beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
The Globalstar deal marks Amazon’s most aggressive move yet to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in the fast-growing market for space-based broadband and mobile connectivity. Starlink already operates about 10,000 satellites, serving more than 10 million people across the globe, including around 1.8 million users of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service.
Amazon Leo, meanwhile, is still in the early stages of deployment. In a January filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Amazon said it had committed to placing 1,618 satellites in orbit by the end of July 2026, but had only about 180 in orbit at the time. The company asked regulators for a two-year extension and said it still expects to deploy its full 3,232-satellite constellation by July 30, 2028.
According to the filing, Amazon has booked more than 100 satellite launches through early 2029. Those include 13 launches with SpaceX, as well as 24 launches with Blue Origin, the space exploration startup of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
