What exactly did the FCC approve?
Amazon announced the deal on April 14, 2026. Globalstar shareholders can elect $90.00 in cash or 0.3210 Amazon shares per share (cash elections capped at 40% of shares), valuing the company at $11.57 billion. Reuters reports the FCC approved the transaction on October 27, the key regulatory condition, and the companies expect to close in 2027, subject to remaining conditions including Globalstar hitting certain replacement-satellite milestones.
The order was not unanimous in spirit: a former Globalstar partner, Yippy, petitioned to block the deal over a contract dispute. The FCC denied the petition, agreeing with Globalstar that the dispute was unrelated. Public-interest groups including Public Knowledge and New America's Open Technology Institute supported the deal, arguing it creates a stronger competitor in satellite-to-phone service, and the FCC itself said the transaction would "create a vigorous satellite-based operator" for fixed and mobile services.
What does Amazon actually get for $11.57 billion?
Four assets that would have taken Amazon years to build or license on its own:
- Licensed spectrum. Globalstar holds mobile satellite service (MSS) licenses, including 1610-1618.725 MHz for Earth-to-space links and 2483.5-2500 MHz for space-to-Earth links. Spectrum rights are the scarcest resource in satellite-to-phone, and Amazon gets them immediately at closing.
- A working constellation. About two dozen operational low-Earth-orbit satellites, plus the C-3 system the FCC recently authorized: 48 operational satellites and six on-orbit spares Amazon can build and launch after closing.
- The Apple partnership. Globalstar is the network behind the iPhone's satellite features. Amazon inherits that agreement, making it the operator behind one of the most-used satellite services in the US.
- An operating business. More than 780,000 end-user devices served in more than 120 countries, with the ground infrastructure and staff to run it.
Does this change my iPhone's satellite features?
Not for now. Emergency SOS and messaging via satellite on iPhone run on Globalstar's network today and keep working the same way through closing and beyond; what changes at closing is who owns the network. Neither Apple nor Amazon has announced changes to pricing or features for iPhone users. The longer-term question, whether Amazon uses the Globalstar-Apple relationship as a foundation for broader consumer satellite services, is exactly what makes this deal interesting, but today there is no announced change to how your phone works.
How does this change Amazon versus Starlink?
Amazon Leo's home-internet constellation and its phone service ambitions are separate tracks. On home internet, nothing changes; Leo's launch cadence and service plans continue on their own. On satellite-to-phone, this deal is a shortcut. SpaceX's Starlink Mobile holds the scale lead, with FCC approval for a 15,000-satellite direct-to-device constellation, and is already texting with T-Mobile's T-Satellite. Amazon's own next-generation D2D system, a 5,105-satellite application still under FCC review, is not planned before 2028. Buying Globalstar gets Amazon licensed spectrum, satellites already in orbit, and the Apple relationship years before its own system could fly. AST SpaceMobile, Elveo (the Lynk-Omnispace combination), and the AT&T-Verizon-T-Mobile joint venture fill out a field that suddenly looks crowded.
The timing matters: the FCC votes Thursday on opening 482 MHz of additional spectrum to exactly this kind of service, with the big carriers fighting to keep 290 MHz of mid-band out of it. We covered what that vote means in our earlier explainer. Amazon's newly acquired MSS spectrum sits outside that fight, one more reason the Globalstar buy looks strategic.
What happens next?
Watch three things: the deal closing in 2027 (remaining conditions include Globalstar's HIBLEO-4 replacement-satellite milestones), the fate of Amazon's 5,105-satellite D2D application now that the FCC has shown it wants Amazon in this market, and any word on how the Apple agreement evolves under new ownership. For satellite broadband you can buy today, our plans and prices guide is current, and the Starlink vs Amazon Leo comparison tracks the fixed-internet race separately.
Frequently asked questions
Did the FCC approve Amazon's purchase of Globalstar?
Yes. The FCC approved the $11.57 billion acquisition on October 27, 2026. Amazon announced the deal April 14, 2026 at $90.00 per share in cash or 0.3210 Amazon shares; closing is expected in 2027, subject to remaining conditions.
Will my iPhone's satellite features change?
Not now. The iPhone's satellite features run on Globalstar's network and keep working as they do today. Amazon inherits the Apple agreement at closing; neither company has announced changes to features or pricing for iPhone users.
What is Amazon Leo's direct-to-device plan?
Two tracks: operate and expand Globalstar's existing constellation and C-3 system after closing, and build a next-generation D2D platform, a 5,105-satellite system now under FCC review, planned for 2028 with voice, text and data services.
How does this compare to Starlink Mobile?
SpaceX holds the scale lead with an FCC-approved 15,000-satellite D2D constellation and live texting via T-Satellite. The Globalstar deal gives Amazon licensed spectrum, satellites in orbit and the Apple partnership years ahead of its own build, making it the best-positioned challenger.
Does the deal affect Amazon Leo home internet?
No. Leo's fixed broadband constellation and service plans are a separate track from the Globalstar acquisition, which is about satellite-to-phone service, spectrum and the Apple partnership.