Amazon requested the FCC's approval for 5,105 satellites intended for a network that transmits internet directly to your mobile device.
Amazon has submitted a request to the FCC to launch 5,105 satellites aimed at creating a direct-to-device network that will provide connectivity directly to smartphones, eliminating the need for cell towers. The filing, made on Saturday, details a satellite constellation that merges Amazon's existing Kuiper system with resources from Globalstar, a satellite operator that Amazon announced its intention to acquire for $11.6 billion in April. The deployment is scheduled to commence in 2028.
The direct-to-device (D2D) segment represents the next competition in satellite internet. SpaceX currently offers this service through its Starlink Mobile in collaboration with T-Mobile in the U.S., utilizing spectrum acquired from EchoStar. Amazon’s filing focuses on users who are "unserved or underserved" by current wireless providers, as well as emergency operations, remote work sites, fleet management, and supply chain connectivity. At present, Amazon has over 390 Kuiper satellites in orbit, sufficient to initiate early Low Earth Orbit (LEO) internet service later this year and is obligated to deploy all 3,232 first-generation satellites by July 2029.
The proposed 5,105-satellite D2D constellation would be in addition to the existing Kuiper fleet. Amazon's LEO satellite internet began its enterprise beta phase in April, with a goal for commercial availability by mid-2026. The acquisition of Globalstar, expected to finalize in 2027, will provide Amazon with the terrestrial spectrum and direct-to-device technology that Kuiper lacks alone. Without Globalstar’s spectrum licenses, Amazon would not be able to legally transmit to mobile phones.
If fully deployed, the combined fleet would exceed 8,300 satellites, positioning Amazon as the second-largest satellite operator after SpaceX, which has more than 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. SpaceX’s expansion is becoming more challenging as the market for fixed satellite internet contracts, and both companies view D2D as the next source of revenue. The distinction lies in that SpaceX is already operational, while Amazon is seeking permission to start construction in 2028. Two years can be a lengthy timeframe in satellite deployment, but the $11.6 billion investment in Globalstar indicates that Amazon is determined not to fall behind in this competition.
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Amazon requested the FCC's approval for 5,105 satellites intended for a network that transmits internet directly to your mobile device.
Amazon submitted a proposal to deploy 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device connectivity. This initiative merges Kuiper and Globalstar resources, with a deployment goal set for 2028. SpaceX is already providing direct-to-device services in partnership with T-Mobile.