Amazon to acquire Globalstar and expand Amazon Leo satellite network
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Amazon Acquires Globalstar in $11.57B Satellite Deal
Is Amazon's Globalstar deal a bold challenge to Starlink or a long-term AI infrastructure power grab?
Above: Amazon Leo Satellite Connectivity signage displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, on Jan. 6, 2026. Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Amazon's $11.57B Globalstar acquisition is a direct shot at Starlink's dominance, and it's exactly the competition the satellite market needs. By adding Globalstar's spectrum licenses and direct-to-device capability, Amazon Leo can now reach billions of people in remote areas, disaster zones and beyond traditional cell coverage. This deal doesn't just close the gap with Starlink; it reshapes the entire satellite connectivity landscape.
Narrative B
Framing this purely as a Starlink rivalry misses the real story — Amazon just secured the connectivity backbone for a future run by AI robots, autonomous vehicles and billions of smart devices. Owning Globalstar's spectrum and Apple's Emergency SOS infrastructure means Amazon controls the physical layer linking every device on earth to the network. This is a long-term AI infrastructure play, not just a satellite internet race.
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0