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Amazon asks FCC approval for up to 5,105 direct-to-device satellites, leveraging Globalstar assets post-$11.6B acquisition

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Amazon’s Project Leo filed with the US Federal Communications Commission to deploy a direct-to-device constellation of up to 5,105 satellites in five orbital shells (510–580 km) to provide voice and data to mobile phones. The plan anticipates construction of Globalstar’s next-generation constellation after Amazon’s planned $11.6B Globalstar purchase closes.

Discovered 2026-07-27T05:06:36.442142-07:00 | 2026-07-27T05:06:36.442142-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Amazon’s FCC filing would expand competition in direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity, with a proposed scale of up to 5,105 satellites and coverage targeted to mobile voice and data from space.
  • The filing explicitly ties Amazon’s constellation buildout to Globalstar’s next-generation network after Amazon’s planned roughly $11.6B Globalstar acquisition, making the outcome relevant to licensing, network integration, and business-case continuity.
  • The same regulatory policy backdrop includes the FCC’s upcoming plan to auction upper C-band spectrum next year, which satellite operators expect to generate more than $6B from clearing C-band—plus additional transition costs for new GEO and related deployments.

Reported By

Ars Technica Aviacionline SpaceNews.com Via Satellite CBS News TechCrunch
Sources Tracked
23
First Seen
2026-07-27T05:06:36.442142-07:00
Latest Update
2026-07-27T14:51:15.455868-07:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

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