Amazon has filed with the FCC to launch a constellation of 5,105 low-Earth orbit satellites under its Amazon Leo brand, formerly Project Kuiper. These satellites will connect directly to standard smartphones to provide voice, messaging, data, and emergency connectivity in areas without traditional cell tower coverage. The project relies on Amazon’s $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar, announced on April 14, 2026, which includes existing satellite infrastructure and a working relationship with Apple. Amazon targets deployment beginning in 2028, alongside its existing Gen1 broadband constellation of 3,236 satellites already approved by the FCC in 2020. This initiative positions Amazon as a direct competitor to SpaceX/T-Mobile and AST SpaceMobile in the satellite-to-cell market.
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