FCC OKs Amazon Leo’s Globalstar acquisition

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Space Bureau has approved Amazon Leo’s application to acquire approximately 25 megahertz of Globalstar’s internationally harmonised mobile-satellite service spectrum. With this approval, the FCC has concluded its review of Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion (€10.3bn) purchase of Globalstar.

According to the FCC, the companies’ complementary assets promise to enhance Amazon Leo’s entry into the direct-to-device segment and create a stronger satellite operator capable of offering fixed and mobile services to residential, business, and government customers. Amazon plans to use Globalstar’s mobile-satellite spectrum and infrastructure to augment existing services with additional capacity and new capabilities, including broader connectivity beyond the reach of terrestrial wireless networks.

The FCC found that the transaction is likely to benefit the public by enhancing data coverage in unserved or underserved areas, strengthening emergency communications capabilities, fostering growth in industrial and enterprise data services, and promoting more intensive use of mobile-satellite service spectrum. The FCC also found that no material public-interest harms were likely to result.

“President Trump is restoring America’s technology leadership,” declared FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “And this FCC authorisation is a significant step towards supercharging next-generation connectivity. By approving this deal, the FCC has empowered Amazon Leo to deliver fast, next-gen satellite broadband services, increase competition, and help communities stay connected all across the country.”

The approval follows the Space Bureau’s recent decision to grant Globalstar’s request for US market access for its non-geostationary C-3 System. The C-3 System is authorised to serve the UDmarket as part of a global network of 48 satellites arranged in 12 orbital planes, with four satellites per plane, operating at an inclination of 52 degrees and an altitude of 1,414 kilometres. The C-3 System may use 1610–1618.725 MHz for Earth-to-space mobile-satellite service links and 2483.5–2500 MHz for space-to-Earth service links. The authorisation also covers feeder links and telemetry, tracking, and command operations in the 5091–5250 MHz Earth-to-space and 6875–7055 MHz space-to-Earth bands. Following the close of its transaction with Globalstar, Amazon Leo may use the C-3 System grant to build and launch this newly authorised system.

The FCC says it is taking aggressive actions across multiple fronts to secure America’s leadership in D2D. Earlier in 2026, the Space Bureau granted SpaceX’s authorisation to build, launch, and deploy a 15,000 satellite D2D constellation, as well as AST SpaceMobile’s authorisation for a 248-satellite system.

Furthermore, at its October 29th Open Meeting, the FCC will vote on two items that it suggests bring spectrum abundance for D2D by: (1) proposing an auction of the 1675-95 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz bands; and (2) seeking to open up approximately 500 megahertz of additional wireless spectrum that may be used for D2D services.

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Business, Companion devices, MNO, Mobile, Policy, Regulation, Satellite, Spectrum

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