Amazon Files FCC Application for 5,100-Satellite Direct-to-Device Network

Amazon filed an FCC application to launch a new LEO constellation of over 5,100 satellites by 2028 that will offer direct-to-device cellular service, partly leveraging assets from Globalstar, which Amazon announced plans to acquire for roughly $11.6 billion in April. The filing marks a concrete regulatory step toward a global satellite-based mobile network that would compete directly with SpaceX Starlink and existing terrestrial carriers.

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Amazon's FCC filing is a formal regulatory commitment that sets a competitive clock ticking for direct-to-device satellite broadband, a segment that could structurally bypass terrestrial mobile carriers for rural and global coverage. Globalstar's spectrum and ground infrastructure become more strategically valuable as Amazon's anchor asset for this network. SpaceX Starlink faces a well-capitalized new entrant with Amazon's logistics and cloud distribution advantages. Traditional mobile operators in underserved markets face long-term subscriber pressure as satellite direct-to-device economics improve. Equipment and chipset makers supporting satellite-compatible handsets gain a new demand driver.