Amazon seeks FCC approval to launch 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device network

Amazon has asked federal regulators to approve a request to launch up to 5,105 internet satellites as part of a constellation that will provide direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity.

Key Details

• Amazon is seeking federal approval to launch 5,105 satellites for a direct-to-device network.
• The proposed network will partly rely on assets from Globalstar, which Amazon announced plans to acquire in April for roughly $11.6 billion.
• Amazon said it expects to begin deploying its D2D network in 2028.

Background

The company first telegraphed plans to launch a D2D network in April, when Amazon announced that it would acquire satellite operator Globalstar in a deal worth about $11.6 billion. D2D networks provide connectivity straight to smartphones or other devices via satellites in place of traditional cell towers.

In a Saturday application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Amazon said its D2D network would combine its existing infrastructure with Globalstar's satellites and spectrum.

Target Users and Applications

Amazon is targeting users who are "unserved or underserved" by existing wireless providers, the filing states. Other applications include:

• Supporting emergency operations like search and rescue
• Extending connectivity for worksites, fleets, and supply chains that are remote or harder for terrestrial networks to reach

"Amazon looks forward to delivering on the promise of D2D connectivity, including to the millions of people living, traveling and working in places beyond the reach of existing networks today," the company wrote.

Timeline and Existing Infrastructure

Amazon previously said it expects the Globalstar deal to close in 2027, with deployment of the D2D network beginning in 2028.

The company has been working to build out its LEO internet-from-space network since last April, which aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink — the dominant low Earth orbit internet provider with a constellation of more than 10,000 satellites.

Amazon now has more than 390 satellites in orbit, which it recently said is enough to begin "initial service" later this year.

Regulatory Developments

Last month, Amazon received a reprieve from the FCC when the agency granted its request to waive a requirement to deploy 1,600 of its first-generation satellites by July 30. The company is still required to launch all 3,232 of its planned satellite constellation by July 2029.

Competitive Landscape

Amazon's D2D network will compete with SpaceX's fledgling service, called Starlink Mobile. SpaceX has acquired wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar to support its network, and it offers direct-to-cell service via T-Mobile in the U.S.

Image: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying Amazon's Project Kuiper internet network satellites on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, April 9, 2025. (Joe Skipper | Reuters)