Amazon announced that it will acquire the US satellite communications company Globalstar for $11.6 billion. The move is said to be aimed at competing with Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Satellite-based internet and direct-to-device (D2D) technologies are creating a new field of competition in the telecommunications sector. Technology giants are also accelerating their investments to position themselves more strongly in this market. In this context, Amazon announced that it will acquire Globalstar for approximately $11.6 billion as part of its growth plans in the D2D field.

With this acquisition, Amazon will gain access to Globalstar’s network of more than 20 low-Earth orbit satellites. The e-commerce giant also plans to use it to prepare for the full-scale rollout of its own low-Earth orbit satellite internet initiative, Leo. Amazon aims to connect satellite internet directly to the mobile devices of its e-commerce customers. It also plans to offer voice, data, and messaging services starting in 2028.

Amazon Launched 200 Satellites in 1 Year

Amazon has launched approximately 200 satellites since April 2025. The company is preparing to officially launch its low-Earth orbit satellite internet service by the end of this year. It also plans to launch approximately 7,700 satellites this year. However, delays in satellite deployment have disrupted this plan.

Globalstar Has 800,000 Subscribers

Globalstar was founded in Louisiana in 1991. As of the end of last year, it has 800,000 subscribers to its mobile satellite communications service. Following the news of Amazon’s acquisition, Globalstar shares rose by approximately 10% on Nasdaq, approaching $80. Apple, one of Globalstar’s major shareholders, also welcomed Amazon’s decision. Apple had acquired a 20% stake in the company by investing $1.5 billion in Globalstar in 2024.

As part of the collaboration with Apple, Amazon Leo will continue to provide infrastructure for the satellite features used on iPhones and Apple Watches. These features include functions such as emergency messaging and location sharing. The agreement will go through the approval process of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is expected to be completed around 2027.

Starlink Leads the Satellite Internet Market

Starlink, which Amazon sees as a rival, is currently the dominant player in the satellite internet market. The company has approximately 10,000 low-Earth orbit communications satellites and 9 million users.