Amazon seeks FCC approval for 5,000 satellites to provide cell service from space

Amazon just filed paperwork with the FCC to launch more than 5,100 satellites designed to connect directly to your phone. Not a special satellite phone, not a bulky terminal on your roof. Your regular, everyday smartphone.

The filing, submitted during the last week of July 2026, requests authorization for a new low-Earth orbit constellation of up to 5,105 satellites under the Amazon Leo brand (formerly Project Kuiper). The goal: deliver voice, messaging, data, and emergency connectivity to compatible smartphones and IoT devices in areas where traditional cell towers don’t reach.

A $11.57 billion bet on spectrum

Amazon’s play here relies heavily on spectrum it plans to acquire through its $11.57 billion purchase of Globalstar, announced on April 14, 2026. That deal doesn’t just hand Amazon a bundle of valuable airwaves. It also comes with existing satellite infrastructure and, notably, a working relationship with Apple.

Globalstar has been powering Apple’s Emergency SOS feature for iPhones and Apple Watches. So Amazon isn’t just buying spectrum. It’s buying a seat at a table where Apple is already sitting.

The new D2D constellation is targeted to begin deployment in 2028, assuming the FCC gives its blessing. It would operate alongside Amazon’s existing Gen1 broadband constellation of roughly 3,236 satellites, which received FCC approval back in July 2020.

The satellite-to-cell arms race

SpaceX has partnered with T-Mobile to offer direct-to-cell connectivity through its Starlink satellites. AST SpaceMobile has been pursuing a similar vision with its own hardware. And Apple’s existing satellite emergency features, currently powered by the very Globalstar infrastructure Amazon wants to buy, have already introduced millions of consumers to the concept of phone-to-satellite communication.

The 5,105-satellite constellation isn’t designed just for emergency texts when you’re stranded on a hiking trail. It’s built for full voice, messaging, and data services.

Amazon Leo plans to work through partnerships with global mobile network operators rather than selling service directly to consumers. Your existing carrier would integrate Amazon’s satellite coverage into your plan, filling in the dead zones without requiring you to sign up for anything new.

What this means for investors

Amazon’s $11.57 billion Globalstar acquisition signals that the company views space-based connectivity as a core strategic priority. For the broader market, this filing intensifies pressure on every company in the satellite-to-cell space, including AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX’s Starlink partnership with T-Mobile.

If Amazon completes the Globalstar acquisition, it inherits the company powering Apple’s satellite emergency features. That creates a dynamic where Amazon would be providing critical infrastructure to one of its biggest competitors across multiple business lines.

Investors should watch the FCC approval timeline closely. The targeted 2028 deployment start means any regulatory delays could push meaningful revenue contribution well into the early 2030s. In a sector where SpaceX is already flying operational direct-to-cell satellites, timing matters as much as technology.

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