Amazon is in talks to acquire Globalstar, the satellite communications company, according to The Information. The deal, if completed, would mark a significant expansion of Amazon’s space ambitions beyond its already massive Project Kuiper satellite internet program.
Details of the negotiations remain sparse, but the implications are substantial.
Why Globalstar matters
Globalstar isn’t just another satellite company. It operates a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites and, critically, holds valuable spectrum licenses. That spectrum is the real prize here. In the satellite communications world, spectrum is scarce, regulated, and incredibly expensive to acquire through traditional licensing.
Globalstar is perhaps best known recently for its partnership with Apple, which uses the company’s satellite network to power the iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature. Apple invested heavily in Globalstar to make this work, committing hundreds of millions to upgrade the satellite infrastructure.
What Amazon gains
Amazon has already poured over $10 billion into Project Kuiper, its plan to launch a constellation of 3,236 satellites to provide broadband internet globally. Acquiring Globalstar would give Amazon:
- Existing satellite infrastructure already in orbit and operational
- Spectrum rights that complement or expand Kuiper’s capabilities
- Direct-to-device expertise, which is rapidly becoming the hottest segment in satellite communications
- An established customer base and revenue stream while Kuiper scales up
The direct-to-device angle is particularly interesting. With companies like T-Mobile, SpaceX, and Apple all racing to connect smartphones directly to satellites, Amazon could use Globalstar’s assets to compete in this space, potentially integrating satellite connectivity into its own hardware ecosystem.
The bigger picture
This potential acquisition signals that the satellite communications industry is entering a consolidation phase. The economics of building and operating satellite constellations favor scale, and the biggest tech companies are positioning themselves as the dominant players.
SpaceX has Starlink. Apple has its Globalstar partnership. Amazon has Kuiper. If Amazon acquires Globalstar outright, it would reshape the competitive dynamics considerably and raise questions about what happens to Apple’s satellite SOS deal.
What stands out here is Amazon’s willingness to buy rather than build. Kuiper has faced delays compared to Starlink’s rapid deployment. Acquiring Globalstar’s operational assets could help Amazon close that gap faster than waiting for its own constellation to fully deploy.
The deal also fits Jeff Jassy’s broader strategy of investing aggressively in infrastructure. Between AWS, Kuiper, and now potentially Globalstar, Amazon is betting that controlling the pipes (whether fiber, cloud, or satellite) is the path to long-term dominance.
No financial terms have been disclosed yet. More details are available at the original reporting from The Information.