Amazon has announced plans to deploy a constellation of up to 5,105 satellites aimed at providing direct-to-device voice, data, messaging, and emergency services, targeting areas where terrestrial cellular networks are unavailable. The initiative, part of the company’s Amazon Leo satellite network, is set to begin satellite launches in 2028 and represents an expansion beyond the company’s current focus on broadband Internet services.
Amazon has submitted an application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking expedited approval for the plan. The proposed system will leverage the mobile satellite spectrum of Globalstar, a U.S.-based satellite communications company that Amazon agreed to acquire earlier this year. Globalstar currently supports device-to-device connectivity for millions of Apple users, enabling emergency messaging and location sharing when out of the reach of traditional networks.
The new service is expected to partner with mobile network operators worldwide, aiming to address connectivity gaps, commonly referred to as “not-spots,” by allowing ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites. This would place Amazon in direct competition with companies such as SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk Global, which are also developing satellite-to-phone technologies.
Amazon Leo currently operates a first-generation broadband satellite system with approximately 390 satellites in orbit. It plans to begin rolling out fixed broadband services on initial frequency bands later this year. The company has announced partnerships with Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, and Australia’s National Broadband Network as part of its global deployment strategy.
The expansion into direct-to-device satellite services follows setbacks experienced by Amazon’s broader space initiatives, including delays caused by a Blue Origin rocket explosion during pre-launch preparations. Blue Origin, a private spaceflight company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, was involved in the incident at Cape Canaveral. Despite these challenges, Amazon aims for a full commercial launch of its satellite broadband network by the end of 2026.
The growing demand for satellite-based mobile services, however, faces challenges related to the limited availability of rocket launch capacity, which is constraining the deployment of new satellite constellations.
In response to criticism from Amazon regarding the rapid satellite launches by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, FCC Chair Brendan Carr commented earlier this year, suggesting Amazon should focus on advancing its own satellite constellation rather than criticizing competitors. SpaceX plans to deploy a constellation of up to one million satellites, considerably larger than Amazon’s proposal.
Amazon’s satellite ambitions are part of a broader industry trend aimed at improving global connectivity by bridging the gaps left by terrestrial infrastructure, a development that could significantly impact communication access in remote and underserved regions worldwide.