AMAZON SEEKS U.S. GREEN LIGHT FOR 5,000 SATELLITES TO CONNECT PHONES DIRECTLY

Tue 28 July 2026:

Amazon has applied to US regulators for approval to deploy up to 5,105 satellites to power a direct-to-device communications network, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The proposed system would integrate Amazon’s existing infrastructure with the satellites and wireless spectrum of Globalstar. Amazon announced in April that it plans to acquire the satellite operator in a deal worth about $11.6 billion, with the transaction expected to be completed in 2027. The direct-to-device service is slated to begin rolling out in 2028.

The technology will allow smartphones and other compatible devices to connect directly to satellites when traditional cellular networks are unavailable. Amazon said the service is intended for people living, working or traveling in areas with limited or no mobile coverage.

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The network could also play a key role in emergency response, search-and-rescue missions, remote industrial sites, vehicle fleets and supply chains that are difficult to serve using ground-based communications infrastructure.

At the same time, Amazon is continuing to expand its low-Earth-orbit broadband satellite network, which is designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink. The company has already launched more than 390 satellites and expects to begin offering initial broadband services later this year.

Under FCC requirements, Amazon must deploy its first-generation constellation of 3,232 satellites by July 2029 after regulators recently waived an earlier deadline that required 1,600 satellites to be in orbit by July 30.

Once operational, Amazon’s direct-to-device service will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, which delivers satellite-to-cell connectivity in the US through its partnership with T-Mobile.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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