Amazon has thrown down a fresh challenge in the satellite race. On July 27 the company filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a new constellation of up to 5,105 low-Earth orbit satellites dedicated to direct-to-device connectivity. The filing, reported first by The Verge, outlines plans to deliver voice, messaging, data and emergency services straight to ordinary smartphones. Deployment would begin in 2028.
The move comes months after Amazon revealed its acquisition of Globalstar. That deal hands the tech giant spectrum, existing satellites and a longstanding partnership with Apple. Amazon intends to use Globalstar’s frequencies for the new network. It also plans to collaborate with Apple on future satellite services using the expanded capacity, according to the FCC application.
But the ambition stretches far beyond one partner. Amazon says it will work with mobile network operators around the globe. The approach mirrors SpaceX’s tie-up with T-Mobile. Those partnerships matter. Without carrier cooperation, direct-to-device service can’t roam onto terrestrial networks or hand off calls when satellites drift out of view. The technical demands are steep.
Satellites in the proposed constellation will carry onboard signal processing. They will handle messages in orbit before relaying them onward. That design promises better performance and lower latency than older systems that simply bounce signals to ground stations. Laser inter-satellite links will knit the fleet into a mesh network. Five orbital planes between 510 and 580 kilometers in altitude should deliver global coverage.
Yet Amazon enters a crowded field. SpaceX’s Starlink already beams broadband to more than four million customers and has begun testing direct-to-cell service with T-Mobile. AST SpaceMobile pursues a similar phone-focused model with its own large satellites. Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite relies on Globalstar today. Once Amazon closes the purchase, expected in 2027, it inherits that traffic and the infrastructure supporting it.
The numbers tell a story of scale. Amazon’s original Leo broadband constellation called for roughly 3,200 satellites. More than 375 have reached orbit so far, including batches launched on Atlas V, Ariane 6 and other rockets. The direct-to-device plan nearly doubles that total. FCC rules once required half the original fleet to fly by July 2026. Regulators waived that deadline in June, giving Amazon breathing room, Ars Technica noted. The full constellation still must be complete by 2029.
Enterprise customers already test early Leo hardware. An enterprise preview launched in November 2025. Commercial broadband service is slated for wider release in 2026 across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada. Speeds between 25 and 400 megabits per second appear realistic based on projections from SatelliteInternet.com. Airlines have signed on for in-flight connectivity. South African provider Herotel will use the network too.
Direct-to-device changes the equation. No special antenna or dish required. A compatible phone connects as it would to a cell tower. That simplicity opens remote areas, oceans and disaster zones. Emergency messaging becomes possible when towers fail. IoT sensors in agriculture or shipping could report data without local infrastructure. The potential feels immediate.
Challenges remain. Spectrum is finite. Amazon’s request includes Iridium frequencies outside the U.S., even as Rocket Lab moves to buy that company. Regulatory approvals must come in more than 100 countries where Globalstar holds licenses. Launch cadence must accelerate dramatically. Amazon has booked over 80 missions with multiple providers, including its own Blue Origin. But delays have plagued the program before.
Cost questions linger. Building thousands of satellites in-house at a Kirkland, Washington facility helps control expenses. Still, the capital outlay runs into tens of billions. Amazon’s deep pockets provide an edge few competitors match. The company views Leo as complementary to its AWS cloud business. Satellites can feed data straight into corporate networks with low latency.
Analysts watch the Globalstar acquisition closely. The $11.6 billion price tag buys more than spectrum. It includes ground stations, operational expertise and an installed base of satellite-phone users. Apple’s continued reliance on the system after the deal closes would provide steady revenue and validation. Fox News highlighted how the purchase strengthens Amazon’s hand against Starlink.
Competition has intensified. T-Mobile and SpaceX demonstrated texting via satellite last year. Qualcomm and others develop chipsets that support non-terrestrial networks. Standards bodies have folded satellite protocols into 5G and 6G roadmaps. The technology has moved from niche to mainstream faster than many predicted.
Amazon’s latest filing signals confidence. It proposes higher spectrum efficiency than legacy direct-to-cell systems. Faster speeds and improved reliability should follow. The company also eyes aviation and maritime markets where connectivity commands premium prices.
Success is far from guaranteed. Orbital congestion grows. Debris risks rise with every new launch. Coordination between constellations will grow more complex. Public opposition to satellite light pollution has surfaced in astronomy circles. Regulators may impose tighter rules.
Even so, the bet looks characteristic of Amazon. Spend heavily now to own critical infrastructure later. Control the pipes rather than merely rent them. If the network performs, millions of phones could gain coverage in places once considered unreachable. Rural communities, disaster responders and globe-trotting travelers all stand to gain.
The coming months will test Amazon’s execution. More launches are scheduled. Regulators will scrutinize the application. Partners must sign contracts. Technical trials will prove whether onboard processing delivers on its promise. The satellite internet race has a new heavyweight contender. And it’s moving fast.
WebProNews is an iEntry Publication