Amazon Asks FCC for 5,105 Satellites to Beam Internet Directly to Phones
The Globalstar acquisition and new D2D constellation put Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink Mobile.
Amazon filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission on July 27, 2026, seeking approval to launch 5,105 satellites dedicated to direct-to-device connectivity—a network that would transmit internet and cellular services straight to smartphones without traditional cell towers.
The proposed constellation is separate from Amazon Leo's existing broadband fleet. Under current FCC requirements, Amazon must deploy 3,232 first-generation Kuiper satellites by July 2029. If fully built out, the combined fleet would exceed 8,300 satellites, positioning Amazon as the world's second-largest satellite operator.
The Globalstar Piece
The direct-to-device play hinges on Amazon's April 14, 2026 agreement to acquire Globalstar for approximately $11.6 billion. That deal, expected to close in 2027 pending regulatory approvals, gives Amazon access to terrestrial spectrum licenses required to legally transmit directly to mobile phones—a critical advantage over spectrum-less competitors.
Deployment of the D2D network is expected to begin in 2028, assuming FCC approval and successful closure of the Globalstar transaction.
Chasing Musk
The filing marks a major escalation in the satellite-to-cell arms race between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. SpaceX's Starlink Mobile currently leads the market with more than 10,000 satellites in orbit and an active partnership with T-Mobile in the United States.
Amazon Leo—Project Kuiper, rebranded in November 2025—launched enterprise beta on April 8, 2026, with commercial availability for standard satellite internet targeted for mid-2026. The new D2D constellation would extend that reach to unserved and underserved populations, emergency services, and industrial fleet management.
What's at Stake
Direct-to-device satellite connectivity represents the next frontier in global communications infrastructure. Unlike traditional satellite internet, which requires dedicated dishes and receivers, D2D technology works with modified or existing smartphone hardware—potentially putting connectivity in reach of billions currently beyond cell tower coverage.
Amazon's two-constellation strategy separates broadband internet (Leo/Kuiper) from direct-to-device services, allowing each network to optimize for its specific use case. The approach mirrors SpaceX's architecture while leveraging Amazon's capital and the Globalstar spectrum portfolio.
The FCC filing opens a public comment period before commissioners vote on the request. Regulatory scrutiny is expected to focus on spectrum interference concerns and whether Amazon's market position would stifle competition in the emerging D2D space.