Amazon applies for FCC license to launch 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device connectivity.
Amazon has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to operate a new network of 5,105 satellites designed to provide direct-to-device connectivity for mobile phones. The company plans to begin launching these satellites in 2028, leveraging the radio spectrum and infrastructure acquired from Globalstar in an $11.6 billion deal. This new network will compete directly with SpaceX, which currently dominates the satellite internet and mobile services market. While Amazon possesses significant capital reserves, it faces logistical challenges, including the lack of its own rocket fleet and delays with Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. The company aims to target users in unserved or underserved areas, as well as supporting emergency operations and remote worksites. Despite current low usage rates among mobile carriers like T-Mobile, Amazon intends to use its massive assets to build a network that extends connectivity beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial networks.