Amazon Seeks FCC License for 5,105 Mobile Satellites as 2028 Launch Plan Takes Shape
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 27
Amazon Seeks FCC License for 5,105 Mobile Satellites as 2028 Launch Plan Takes Shape
3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 27
Summary
Amazon asked the FCC to approve a 5,105-satellite direct-to-device network for mobile phones, with launches slated to begin in 2028.
The filing shows Amazon plans to use Globalstar’s spectrum and satellite assets to add phone connectivity and tie the service into its Leo broadband constellation.
That would deepen competition with SpaceX, which already leads satellite internet and mobile links and has agreed to spend $20 billion on Echostar spectrum for its own buildout.
Demand for satellite-to-phone service remains uncertain because bandwidth is limited; T-Mobile said May satellite traffic was just 0.0002% of its total network usage.
Amazon still faces launch constraints after Blue Origin’s New Glenn was delayed and grounded following a May anomaly, but its $255 billion in current assets gives it room to keep funding the effort.
Will Amazon's quiet takeover of Apple's satellite partner secretly transform how our everyday smartphones connect to the internet from space?
With SpaceX already dominating the skies, can Amazon's massive $11.6 billion satellite gamble survive its looming 2029 regulatory deadline?
Amazon’s $11.6B Globalstar Deal, Apple Partnership, and FCC Filing: The New Era of Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity
Overview
In 2026, Amazon made a bold move by acquiring Globalstar for $11.57 billion, gaining access to its global satellite infrastructure and valuable MSS spectrum. This gave Amazon a shortcut to expand its Amazon Leo network and triggered a wave of industry consolidation, including Rocket Lab’s acquisition of Iridium. Amazon’s new alliance with Apple means Apple will buy satellite services directly from Amazon Leo, allowing Apple to avoid heavy infrastructure costs but also facing new capacity limits. Amazon’s FCC filing for a massive direct-to-device constellation, combined with integration of Globalstar’s assets into AWS, positions Amazon as a strong competitor to Starlink and reshapes the global satellite communications landscape.