{"id":5431,"date":"2026-04-15T00:18:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T00:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/amazon-acquires-globalstar\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T00:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T00:18:18","slug":"amazon-acquires-globalstar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/amazon-acquires-globalstar\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon to Acquire Globalstar Satellite Network for $11.57 Billion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amazon<\/a> has announced a definitive agreement to acquire satellite communications company Globalstar<\/a> for $11.57 billion. The acquisition is a strategic move to bolster its Project Kuiper<\/a> low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband initiative and accelerate its ambitions in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, aiming to extend coverage beyond traditional cellular networks.<\/p>\n

The deal will see Amazon integrate Globalstar\u2019s existing satellite fleet, its valuable radio frequency spectrum licenses, and operational expertise into its own LEO network infrastructure. This integration is intended to enable future generations of the platform to support direct connectivity to standard smartphones and other consumer devices without specialized hardware.<\/p>\n

Partnership with Apple for Satellite Services<\/h2>\n

Concurrently with the acquisition announcement, Amazon confirmed it has reached an agreement with Apple. Amazon will power satellite-based services on supported iPhone and Apple Watch models. These services will include the existing Emergency SOS via satellite feature, as well as messaging, location sharing, and roadside assistance functionalities for users in areas without cellular coverage.<\/p>\n

This development is a core part of Amazon\u2019s long-term strategy to deliver ubiquitous, space-based connectivity. The company stated it aims to collaborate with mobile network operators worldwide to extend voice, text, and data services to any location on the globe.<\/p>\n

Executive Perspectives on the Deal<\/h2>\n

Panos Panay, senior vice president of devices and services at Amazon, stated that billions of customers remain beyond the reach of existing terrestrial networks. He explained that Project Kuiper was initiated to help bridge that digital divide. “By combining Globalstar\u2019s proven expertise with Amazon\u2019s innovation, customers can expect faster, more reliable service in more places,” Panay said.<\/p>\n

Globalstar is recognized as a pioneer in non-geostationary orbit satellites and early D2D technology, providing critical communications services globally. Under the agreement, Amazon will take ownership of Globalstar\u2019s satellite operations, ground infrastructure, and globally authorized spectrum licenses. These assets are expected to be central to scaling next-generation D2D services.<\/p>\n

Paul Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar, commented on the strategic fit, noting his company’s long-held belief that LEO constellations offer the most effective path to global connectivity. “The combination with Project Kuiper will accelerate innovation and help deliver a more intelligent, continuously connected world,” Jacobs said.<\/p>\n

Technical Integration and Future Roadmap<\/h2>\n

Amazon plans for Globalstar\u2019s existing and next-generation satellites to operate alongside the Project Kuiper broadband system and its planned dedicated D2D network. The goal is to create a unified platform designed to deliver continuous connectivity for consumer, enterprise, and government applications.<\/p>\n

The company outlined plans to deploy its next-generation D2D system starting in 2028. This system is designed to enable voice, messaging, and data services delivered directly to mobile devices. Amazon claims the system will offer greater spectrum efficiency and performance than legacy direct-to-cell solutions, while integrating seamlessly with its existing Project Kuiper LEO infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The complete Project Kuiper network is ultimately expected to comprise thousands of satellites and support hundreds of millions of connected endpoints worldwide.<\/p>\n

Continuity for Existing Apple Services<\/h2>\n

The agreement with Apple ensures continuity for satellite services currently supported by Globalstar\u2019s network. These services are available on iPhone 14 and later models, as well as Apple Watch Ultra models. Amazon has committed to continuing support for these existing services while collaborating with Apple on future satellite capabilities leveraging the expanded LEO network.<\/p>\n

Greg Joswiak, Apple\u2019s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, acknowledged the life-saving impact of features like Emergency SOS via satellite. “We look forward to building on our collaboration with Amazon to ensure users can continue to access these vital features and stay connected when they are off the grid,” Joswiak stated.<\/p>\n

The acquisition underscores the significant industry momentum behind D2D satellite services, as major technology firms and mobile operators seek to address persistent coverage gaps and enable truly global connectivity.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Upon completion, the focus will shift to the technical integration of assets and the execution of the roadmap toward the planned 2028 launch of Amazon’s next-generation direct-to-device satellite services.<\/p>\n

Source: Various company announcements and statements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amazon has announced a definitive agreement to acquire satellite communications company Globalstar for $11.57 billion. The acquisition is a strategic move to bolster its Project Kuiper low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband initiative and accelerate its ambitions in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, aiming to extend coverage beyond traditional cellular networks. The deal will see Amazon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[386],"tags":[917,312,2289,6426,553,681,6427,4705,379],"class_list":["post-5431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobile","tag-amazon","tag-apple","tag-direct-to-device","tag-globalstar","tag-news","tag-operators","tag-project-kuiper","tag-satellite-internet","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delimiter.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}