The company plans to begin deploying the constellation in 2028, using spectrum from its planned Globalstar acquisition
Getty Images / Picture Alliance
Amazon $AMZN filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to launch and operate a constellation of up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites designed to deliver connectivity directly to smartphones and other mobile devices, with deployment beginning in 2028.
The application, submitted July 24, seeks authorization for the Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device system, which would provide voice, messaging, data, and emergency services to areas beyond the reach of cell towers, the company said. The satellites would operate in five orbital shells at altitudes between 510 and 580 kilometers, according to SpaceNews.
The system would use L-band and S-band spectrum linked to Amazon's planned acquisition of Globalstar, a deal announced in April that valued the satellite communications company at $11.57 billion. That transaction, which would give Amazon access to Globalstar's spectrum licenses authorized in more than 120 countries, is expected to close in 2027. The D2D satellites would operate alongside Globalstar's existing satellites and Amazon Leo's broadband constellation, the company said.
Amazon said the service would extend beyond personal use, enabling emergency response communications, fleet management, remote worksite connectivity, and IoT applications for sensors in areas without ground-based network coverage. The filing also noted an existing agreement with Apple $AAPL to power satellite features on supported iPhone and Apple Watch models, including Emergency SOS, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance.
Amazon said it would partner with mobile network operators rather than compete with them directly, positioning the D2D system as a supplement to existing terrestrial networks in areas where deployment is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
According to SpaceNews, each satellite is designed to last six to eight years, with launches targeting a 440-kilometer staging altitude from which onboard propulsion would push them up to their assigned operational orbits. Once retired, the satellites would maneuver down to a 360-kilometer altitude, from which atmospheric drag would pull them out of orbit in roughly two months.
Amazon Leo currently has more than 390 satellites in orbit — enough, the company said, to begin initial fixed broadband service this year. Earlier this month, a separate FCC proceeding handed Amazon a conditional waiver that freed it from an obligation to have half its planned broadband constellation in orbit by July 30. The company still must deploy all 3,232 first-generation broadband satellites by July 2029.
Join 500,000+ readers who start their day with Quartz.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
