Observed Signal · Apr 14, 2026 · Acquisition · Source: CNBC Technology · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6 Billion
Amazon announced it will acquire satellite operator Globalstar for $90 per share in a transaction valued at about $11.57 billion, a deal expected to close in 2027. The purchase includes Globalstar's satellite operations, infrastructure and some globally authorized spectrum licenses; Amazon said the assets will augment its nascent LEO internet network (rebranded as Leo) and help it build a direct-to-device satellite service targeted to begin deployments in 2028. Globalstar shareholders may elect $90 cash or 0.3210 Amazon shares per Globalstar share. Apple—already a 20% Globalstar investor—agreed to provide satellite connectivity for iPhone and Apple Watch features. The FCC said it will review the deal; FCC Chair Brendan Carr commented it could create a competitor to SpaceX in direct-to-cell services. The announcement follows ongoing competition with SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s own satellite deployment milestones and regulatory filings.
Major-platform acquisition that materially strengthens Amazon's satellite infrastructure and spectrum holdings, intensifying competition with SpaceX/Starlink and influencing future direct-to-device connectivity and related ecosystem opportunities; regulatory review by the FCC further affects industry dynamics.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Amazon will acquire Globalstar for $90 per share, valuing the deal at about $11.57 billion.
- Globalstar shareholders can choose $90 in cash or 0.3210 share of Amazon common stock per Globalstar share; closing is expected in 2027.
- Transaction includes Globalstar’s satellite operations, existing fleet, new satellites, infrastructure and some globally authorized spectrum licenses.
- Amazon says the acquisition will enable a direct-to-device satellite system with deployment targeted to start in 2028.
- Apple owns a 20% stake in Globalstar (from a 2024 $1.5 billion investment) and agreed to a deal with Amazon to provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.
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Amazon to Acquire Globalstar to Boost Amazon Leo
Amazon announced plans to acquire satellite operator Globalstar in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $11.6 billion ($90 per share), a transaction expected to close in 2027. The purchase is intended to accelerate Amazon’s Amazon Leo low‑Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite internet service, which is slated to begin commercial broadband service in mid‑2026, and to help Amazon deploy direct‑to‑device (D2D) connectivity using Globalstar’s spectrum licenses. Globalstar operates roughly 24 satellites and has agreements for ~50 additional satellites from MDA Space; Amazon has launched about 240 LEO satellites and holds FCC approval to deploy ~7,700. The deal positions Amazon against incumbent SpaceX/Starlink (reported >10,000 satellites) and aims to create synergies with AWS, Amazon’s retail business, enterprise and government customers, and partners including Apple.
Amazon Acquires Globalstar Satellite Provider
Amazon has reached a takeover agreement for satellite operator Globalstar. The deal gives Globalstar shareholders a choice of $90 in cash or 0.321 Amazon shares per Globalstar share; about 58% of shareholders have accepted so far and the purchase is expected to close next year. Globalstar currently operates 48 active satellites (FCC filings) in higher orbits that cover more area per satellite than SpaceX’s Starlink, which has a fleet of more than 10,000 active satellites. Globalstar holds rights to frequency bands that enable direct-to-device communications without an external receiver, supported by a global network of ground stations. Its satellite messaging technology is already integrated into many Apple devices for emergency and off-grid messaging; that functionality is expected to continue after the acquisition. The deal strengthens Amazon’s connectivity assets but does not materially close the gap with Starlink’s much larger constellation.
Amazon files for 5,105-satellite mobile network
Amazon filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate a 5,105-satellite network to provide service to mobile phones, with launches planned to begin in 2028. The filing follows Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar’s satellite operations and signals plans to use Globalstar spectrum and integrate those assets with Amazon’s LEO broadband network. The move increases competition with SpaceX, which is investing heavily in spectrum and mobile constellation plans. The article notes questions about commercial demand for satellite-to-mobile services, Amazon’s reliance on delayed Blue Origin rockets for launches, and Amazon’s large cash reserves to continue investing in its satellite strategy.
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