Amazon Buys Globalstar to Strengthen a Broader Challenge to Starlink
The $11.57 billion acquisition gives Amazon infrastructure, spectrum, and direct-to-device capabilities for its expanding satellite strategy.
Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar for $11.57 billion, a major step in its effort to build a stronger satellite communications business and challenge SpaceX's Starlink more seriously.
The deal gives Amazon control of Globalstar's satellite operations, ground infrastructure, and valuable mobile satellite spectrum, assets that are especially useful for direct-to-device services. Those services allow phones and other consumer hardware to stay connected outside the reach of traditional cellular towers.
Amazon is still building out its broader low Earth orbit network, and the acquisition suggests the company wants to accelerate that rollout rather than rely only on organic growth. By adding Globalstar, Amazon can widen its product plans and move faster into emergency coverage, remote connectivity, and future telecom partnerships.
The transaction highlights how strategic the satellite sector has become. It is no longer just about broadband in rural areas; it is about spectrum control, device integration, and who will shape the next layer of global communications infrastructure.