Amazon Files for 5,105-Satellite Direct-to-Phone Network, Challenging SpaceX
The e-commerce giant plans to launch its mobile constellation in 2028 using spectrum from its $11.6 billion Globalstar acquisition.
Amazon has filed an FCC application for a license to operate 5,105 satellites designed to beam connectivity directly to mobile phones, entering the direct-to-device market and setting up head-to-head competition with SpaceX's Starlink Mobile service.
The company plans to begin deploying the constellation in 2028. The network will leverage radio spectrum from Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar's satellite operations, announced in April 2026 for approximately $11.6 billion and expected to close in 2027. Globalstar already provides emergency satellite connectivity for Apple iPhones.
Competitive Landscape
The move intensifies the infrastructure race between Amazon and SpaceX for global telecommunications coverage. SpaceX is pursuing a parallel strategy, agreeing to spend $17 billion in cash and stock to acquire spectrum from EchoStar, plus approximately $2 billion in debt interest payments through November 2027.
Amazon faces a significant logistical constraint: it lacks its own rocket fleet. The company has relied on Blue Origin's New Glenn vehicle, grounded following an anomaly during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral on May 28, 2026, that destroyed part of the launch pad.
Market Skepticism
Despite massive capital commitments from both tech giants, industry executives question the near-term commercial viability of satellite-to-mobile services. At a JP Morgan conference, T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan noted that satellite usage represented just 0.0002% of his company's total network usage in May 2026.
"Just to give you an example, we look at our data in May, and satellite usage is 0.0002% of our total network usage. That's three zeros," Gopalan said.
Amazon's filing positions the D2D network as an extension of its Project Kuiper broadband constellation, though the company has not disclosed total investment figures for the mobile-specific infrastructure. The FCC application must be approved before Amazon can proceed with the 2028 deployment timeline.