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Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar for approximately $11.6 billion, but it does not own the satellite operator yet. The transaction, announced April 14, 2026, is expected to close in 2027 if regulatory approvals and other conditions are satisfied. Amazon’s prize is less Globalstar’s current revenue than its mobile-satellite spectrum, satellite infrastructure, operating expertise, and relationship with Apple.
The deal gives Amazon a potentially valuable shortcut into direct-to-device connectivity—satellite services delivered to ordinary phones and other cellular devices. It also strengthens Amazon Leo, the company’s planned low-Earth-orbit network. But it does not immediately make Amazon a peer of SpaceX’s Starlink: Amazon still has to close the transaction, deploy satellites, integrate networks, secure approvals, and build a commercially viable service.
What Amazon agreed to buy
Under the proposed transaction, Globalstar would become an Amazon subsidiary before being merged into an Amazon acquisition subsidiary. The legal structure is described in Globalstar’s merger-agreement filing.
Amazon is acquiring more than a conventional satellite-services business. The assets include:
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- Globalstar’s existing satellites and satellite operations;
- ground infrastructure and related assets;
- mobile-satellite-service spectrum licenses and associated authorizations;
- operational and regulatory expertise;
- existing customer and wholesale-capacity relationships; and
- the company’s important relationship with Apple.
Globalstar remains a mobile-satellite-services operator rather than a fully formed broadband competitor to Starlink. Its services have included satellite voice, messaging, tracking, and specialized connectivity. Its first-quarter 2026 results showed revenue of $70.1 million, up 17% year over year, with wholesale-capacity revenue helping the result. That relatively modest standalone scale helps explain why the acquisition price is primarily a valuation of strategic assets and future positioning, not simply current sales.
Globalstar said the FCC’s Space Bureau had reaffirmed its exclusive mobile-satellite-service operating rights in the relevant Big LEO spectrum band. That is strategically significant, but it should not be read as proof that Amazon will have unrestricted commercial use of every frequency in every country. Spectrum rights remain subject to technical, regulatory, geographic, and service-specific conditions.
What the $11.6 billion price actually means
The headline value is approximately $11.6 billion. The agreement provides for Globalstar shareholders to receive either:
- $90 in cash per share; or
- 0.3210 Amazon shares per Globalstar share, with the stock consideration capped at a value of $90 per share.
Cash elections are capped at 40% of Globalstar’s outstanding shares, so the final mix will include both cash and Amazon stock. The transaction value can also be reduced by as much as $110 million if specified operational milestones are not achieved.
Approximately 58% of Globalstar’s combined voting power had approved the transaction by written consent, according to Amazon’s announcement. That support does not remove the remaining closing conditions. The deal is still subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, and the expected closing date is 2027—not the date of the announcement.
For investors, the distinction matters. “Amazon owns Globalstar” is currently inaccurate. The more precise descriptions are “Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar,” “Amazon is the announced buyer,” or “Globalstar is a pending Amazon acquisition.”
Why spectrum may be more valuable than Globalstar’s size
Satellite networks need orbital capacity, ground infrastructure, launch capability, devices, customer relationships, and regulatory permission. Spectrum is one of the hardest pieces to obtain quickly.
Mobile-satellite-service spectrum can support communications between satellites and mobile devices or specialized terminals. Acquiring an existing license holder may allow Amazon to move faster than building a D2D regulatory position from scratch. It also gives Amazon experience with the complicated national and international rules governing satellite operations.
However, spectrum is not the same thing as a functioning network. Amazon still needs to:
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- launch and operate satellites;
- connect them to ground infrastructure;
- manage interference and network capacity;
- obtain approvals in relevant markets;
- integrate with mobile operators and device manufacturers;
- certify compatible phones and other equipment; and
- offer pricing and performance that customers will accept.
The acquisition therefore shortens one part of Amazon’s path into satellite-to-device service. It does not eliminate the engineering, capital, regulatory, or commercial work that follows.
The Apple connection is central
Apple is not a minor detail in this transaction. Apple has been a major Globalstar investor and held approximately 20% of the company according to coverage reviewed for this article. Globalstar currently supports Apple’s satellite features.
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That does not mean every iPhone will automatically receive broadband satellite service. Compatibility will depend on device hardware, software, geography, carrier arrangements, satellite coverage, and the eventual terms of each service. It also does not mean Apple’s existing features will instantly move to Amazon Leo when the acquisition closes.
For Amazon, Apple provides a high-profile anchor relationship and a concrete use case for satellite connectivity. For Apple, an expanded network could provide another route to maintain and develop satellite features without relying solely on Globalstar’s existing scale.
Backhaul, broadband, and direct-to-device are different
Coverage of the deal can become confusing when it treats all satellite connectivity as the same. The main categories are distinct:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Service type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fixed satellite broadband | Uses a dedicated antenna or terminal to connect a home, office, remote site, vessel, aircraft, or other location. |
| Satellite backhaul | Carries traffic between a remote cellular or network site and the wider terrestrial network. |
| Direct-to-device | Allows a satellite to communicate directly with a conventional cellular phone or other compatible device, potentially supporting messaging, voice, or data. |
Globalstar has experience across mobile satellite services and wholesale capacity. Amazon’s strategic objective is broader: combine Globalstar’s assets with Amazon Leo’s fixed, mobile, and direct-to-device ambitions.
How Globalstar fits into Amazon Leo
Amazon describes Leo as a planned LEO satellite network serving fixed and mobile connectivity. Its next-generation direct-to-device system is planned to begin deployment in 2028 and is expected to integrate with Amazon’s first- and second-generation Leo systems.
Amazon projects that the completed network will include thousands of LEO satellites and capacity for hundreds of millions of endpoints. Those are company projections, not independently verified results or guarantees of future coverage.
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Globalstar’s spectrum, infrastructure, and regulatory experience could help Amazon build a unified network that supports:
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- emergency and safety communications;
- enterprise and government connectivity;
- aircraft, maritime, and transportation services;
- satellite backhaul for mobile operators; and
- future messaging, voice, and data services on compatible devices.
The 2028 target applies to the planned next-generation D2D system. It should not be interpreted as a promise that every Amazon Leo service—or a consumer satellite phone plan—will launch that year.
Why Amazon is acting now
LEO satellite networking is capital-intensive and execution-sensitive. Companies must fund satellites, launches, ground systems, spectrum compliance, device partnerships, and customer acquisition, often years before reaching scale.
The competitive field is also becoming more crowded. SpaceX’s Starlink has an operating lead, while AST SpaceMobile and other providers are pursuing direct-to-device services. Mobile operators are seeking ways to extend coverage beyond terrestrial networks, and device manufacturers want satellite capabilities that can be marketed as safety or connectivity features.
In that environment, assets that are difficult to reproduce—licensed spectrum, regulatory history, an operating constellation, and an anchor customer such as Apple—can be worth more to a strategic buyer than to a smaller standalone operator. Consolidation can also reduce the time needed to assemble a complete service, although it cannot guarantee commercial success.
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Does this make Amazon a Starlink peer?
Not immediately. The acquisition improves Amazon’s strategic position by adding spectrum, satellite operations, a D2D roadmap, and Apple-related demand. But Starlink has a substantial installed constellation, launch cadence, operating experience, and existing customer base.
Amazon must still close the deal and integrate Globalstar’s assets. It must also manufacture and launch a large constellation, establish ground infrastructure, coordinate with mobile operators, satisfy regulators, and prove that D2D services can generate sustainable returns.
Analysts cited by Network World argued that the transaction does not remove Amazon’s scale gap with SpaceX. That is analyst opinion rather than an independently audited forecast, but it captures the central limitation: buying a strategically useful operator is not the same as buying Starlink’s years of deployment and operating history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What consumers should expect
In the near term, consumers should not expect an immediate Amazon satellite broadband plan for ordinary phones. The reviewed announcements provide no verified public retail pricing or complete consumer launch schedule for Amazon Leo’s D2D service as of August 18, 2026.
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Longer term, Amazon says it is pursuing more advanced messaging, voice, and data services for phones and other cellular devices. Actual availability will depend on:
- compatible device hardware and software;
- mobile-carrier participation;
- country-specific spectrum and regulatory rules;
- satellite coverage and available capacity;
- the user’s view of the sky; and
- service pricing and plan terms.
Buildings, forests, mountains, aircraft cabins, and other obstructions may affect a satellite connection. Satellite capacity is shared, and performance may vary by location and demand. Emergency satellite connectivity is also not the same as guaranteed emergency response or universal access to local emergency services.
What it could mean for enterprises and carriers
The strongest early commercial opportunity may be enterprise and infrastructure connectivity rather than a mass-market phone subscription.
Mobile operators could use satellite links to extend coverage or provide backup where fiber and microwave connections are unavailable. Governments, emergency services, transportation companies, remote industrial sites, and defense organizations could use satellite connectivity in locations where terrestrial networks are limited or vulnerable.
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Enterprise buyers should ask about coverage geography, hardware, clear-sky requirements, data limits, latency, service-level agreements, support, carrier integration, regulatory restrictions, and whether the product is intended for fixed broadband, backhaul, mobility, or direct-to-device use. Satellite should generally be viewed as a complement to terrestrial networks—not an automatic replacement for fiber, microwave, or cellular infrastructure.
Risks investors should watch
- Closing risk: The transaction remains subject to regulatory and other conditions.
- Customer-contract risk: Globalstar customers may have rights to terminate, amend, or withhold consent because of the change in control.
- Integration risk: Globalstar’s existing systems may not integrate cleanly with Amazon Leo’s architecture.
- Deployment risk: Satellite manufacturing, launch schedules, orbital deployment, and ground infrastructure can all cause delays.
- Demand risk: Mobile operators may prefer multiple suppliers or already have agreements with competing satellite providers.
- Economics risk: Technically successful D2D service may still be difficult to monetize at consumer price points.
- Competition risk: Starlink and other providers may expand their lead before Amazon’s planned 2028 D2D deployment.
- Performance risk: D2D services may begin with constrained messaging or emergency functions before supporting voice and broadband data.
The financial takeaway
Amazon’s planned purchase is best understood as a strategic infrastructure deal, not a simple bet on Globalstar’s current income statement. The company is paying for a combination of spectrum, satellite assets, regulatory know-how, Apple-related continuity, and a faster route into direct-to-device connectivity.
That combination could materially improve Amazon’s position in the LEO market. But the deal does not yet deliver a functioning Amazon-to-phone network, close the scale gap with Starlink, or guarantee that consumers will receive a new satellite service on existing devices. The decisive test will come after closing, when Amazon must convert scarce spectrum and valuable partnerships into reliable, scalable, and profitable connectivity.
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