Amazon Seeks Permission For 5,105-Satellite Mobile Network, Eyes 2028 Launches

Amazon asked federal regulators to approve a plan for a 5,105-satellite constellation designed to deliver services directly to mobile phones, with launches slated to begin in 2028, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.

The filing follows Amazon’s recent purchase of Globalstar’s satellite operations and signals an intent to use Globalstar’s radio holdings alongside its own low-Earth-orbit broadband system. Company documents say the combined spectrum would broaden Amazon’s ability to link everyday handsets to space-based networks, a move that places it in more direct competition with SpaceX, which currently dominates both consumer satellite internet and direct-to-phone services.

SpaceX has already outlined plans to buy roughly $20 billion in spectrum from EchoStar as part of its push to build a mobile-focused constellation, according to notes in its public filings. But the commercial value of direct satellite-to-phone links remains uncertain: most of the existing services are low-capacity and are largely suitable for short messages or emergency use rather than full data sessions. T-Mobile’s chief executive recently said satellite connections accounted for about one in 500,000 units of the carrier’s traffic in May and were concentrated in remote parks and recreation areas.

Industry experts say Amazon’s play could expand the slice of use cases that satellites can serve, but challenges remain. “Satellite-to-handset services are useful in narrow circumstances today, but combining more spectrum with an established broadband fleet could push capability beyond emergency texts,” said Dr. Marsha Lee, a telecommunications researcher at Stanford. She added that regulatory approvals and handset integration will be critical to any broader uptake.

Amazon faces a practical hurdle: it does not operate its own heavy-lift rockets. The company had planned to rely on Blue Origin’s New Glenn for launches, yet that vehicle has been delayed and suffered a May anomaly that damaged a launch pad. Amazon has asked the FCC for more time to meet the construction deadlines in its existing authorizations.

Financially, Amazon has substantial liquidity to fund satellite expansion — about $255 billion in current assets at the end of April — giving it room to keep investing while rivals manage tighter cash needs. Observers say the next few years will reveal whether the market for direct-to-phone satellite services grows beyond niche and emergency applications, or remains a specialty add-on for a small number of users.