Key Highlights

  • Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) asked the FCC to approve up to 5,105 internet satellites for a constellation providing direct-to-device connectivity.
  • The network will combine Amazon's existing infrastructure with satellites and spectrum from Globalstar (NYSE:GSAT), which Amazon agreed to acquire in April for about $11.6 billion.
  • Amazon now has more than 390 satellites in orbit, which it says is enough to begin initial service later this year, with D2D deployment targeted for 2028.
  • The service will compete with SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX)'s Starlink Mobile, which already offers direct-to-cell connectivity in the US through T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS).

Amazon Formalizes Its Direct-to-Device Ambitions With Regulators

Amazon has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval to launch up to 5,105 internet satellites as part of a constellation designed to deliver direct-to-device connectivity, extending internet access straight to smartphones and other devices without relying on traditional cell towers. The Saturday filing formalizes plans the company first signaled in April, when it announced an agreement to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for approximately $11.6 billion.

Under the plan, Amazon's D2D network would combine its own infrastructure with Globalstar's existing satellites and spectrum holdings, creating a hybrid system built on assets from both companies rather than an entirely new buildout.

Targeting Underserved Users and Specialized Applications

In its filing, Amazon said the network is aimed primarily at users who are unserved or underserved by existing wireless providers, a population that includes people living, traveling and working in areas beyond the reach of current terrestrial networks. Beyond consumer connectivity, the company outlined additional use cases including support for emergency operations such as search and rescue efforts, as well as extended connectivity for remote worksites, fleets and supply chains that are difficult for conventional networks to serve.

This positioning places Amazon's D2D ambitions within a broader category of applications that go beyond simple consumer internet access, potentially opening revenue opportunities tied to enterprise, logistics and public safety use cases alongside individual subscribers.

Regulatory Timeline and Competitive Pressure From Starlink Mobile

Amazon has said it expects the Globalstar acquisition to close in 2027, with D2D network deployment beginning in 2028, a timeline that gives the company several years to build out the necessary satellite and spectrum infrastructure. The company's broader low earth orbit ambitions received a boost last month when the FCC granted a waiver on a requirement to deploy 1,600 first-generation satellites by July 30, though Amazon remains obligated to launch its full constellation of 3,232 planned satellites by July 2029.

The D2D network will enter a market where SpaceX's Starlink Mobile already operates, backed by wireless spectrum licenses acquired from EchoStar and a direct-to-cell partnership with T-Mobile in the US. With more than 10,000 satellites already in orbit, Starlink holds a substantial scale advantage as the dominant low earth orbit internet provider, meaning Amazon's ability to close that gap could hinge on how quickly it can integrate Globalstar's assets and scale its own satellite deployment following its recent milestone of surpassing 390 satellites in orbit.

Conclusion

Amazon's FCC filing marks a concrete step toward launching a direct-to-device satellite network built on the combined assets of its own Kuiper program and its pending Globalstar acquisition. The company's stated focus on underserved users, emergency response and remote connectivity suggests a strategy aimed at differentiating from Starlink Mobile's existing footprint rather than competing solely on scale. Whether Amazon can meet its 2028 deployment target may depend on the pace of regulatory approval, the timely close of the Globalstar deal, and continued progress toward its broader satellite constellation deadlines.