Amazon Acquires Globalstar for $11.57 Billion to Build Its Own Satellite Network
Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar, a satellite communications company, for approximately $11.57 billion. The deal gives Amazon a licensed satellite network with existing spectrum allocations and ground infrastructure — assets that take years to build and require regulatory approval that cannot simply be purchased. It is a significant acceleration of Amazon's ambitions in satellite connectivity, sitting alongside but distinct from its existing Project Kuiper low-Earth orbit broadband initiative.
What Globalstar Brings to Amazon
Globalstar operates a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites and holds valuable spectrum licenses in multiple frequency bands. It is perhaps best known as the satellite network that powers Apple's Emergency SOS satellite feature on iPhones — a deal that gave Globalstar significant visibility but also reflected how underutilized its infrastructure was compared to its potential. Under Amazon, those assets gain a significantly better-resourced owner with the logistics, compute, and customer base to extract more value from the network.
Where This Fits in Amazon's Telecom Strategy
Amazon's Project Kuiper has been building its own LEO broadband constellation from scratch, with commercial launches targeting 2025–2026. Globalstar adds a different layer: existing licensed spectrum, a proven network with real customers, and immediate presence in satellite communications. The combination positions Amazon to offer connectivity services ranging from emergency communications to IoT to enterprise broadband — competing directly with SpaceX Starlink and potentially with traditional wireless carriers for rural and remote coverage.
The SpaceX Comparison
SpaceX's Starlink has built a commanding lead in LEO broadband, with over 6 million subscribers and growing. Amazon's acquisition strategy — buying Globalstar rather than building everything — suggests urgency to close the gap faster than organic construction would allow. Spectrum is the scarcest input in satellite communications. Acquiring Globalstar's licensed spectrum is arguably more defensible than the hardware itself, which can be replicated over time.
The Bottom Line
Amazon is buying its way into satellite connectivity at scale, rather than waiting for Project Kuiper alone to catch up with Starlink. At $11.57 billion, it is acquiring spectrum licenses, existing infrastructure, and a real customer base — the building blocks for a telecom strategy that few companies could afford to execute.
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