Amazon has applied for US regulatory approval to operate a new constellation of up to 5,105 satellites that would connect compatible mobile phones directly from space. The company plans to begin deploying the system in 2028 as part of its expanding Amazon Leo satellite business.
The proposed direct-to-device network would support messaging, voice, data and emergency services in areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile towers. Amazon has not disclosed when commercial services could begin or which mobile operators would initially offer them.
Globalstar Spectrum Will Support the Network
The filing follows Amazon’s agreement to acquire Globalstar, the satellite operator that currently supports emergency connectivity on Apple devices. Amazon said Globalstar’s satellites, radio spectrum and operational expertise will help it add direct-to-device services to future generations of its low-Earth-orbit network.
Amazon has also agreed to power satellite services for the iPhone and Apple Watch after the acquisition closes. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
The mobile constellation would complement Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper. Its existing broadband network is designed around more than 3,000 satellites that connect customers through dedicated ground terminals rather than ordinary smartphones.
Amazon Expands Competition With SpaceX
The plan increases competition with SpaceX’s Direct to Cell service, which uses Starlink satellites to connect standard mobile devices in places without terrestrial coverage. SpaceX began deploying direct-to-cell satellites in 2024 and has made mobile connectivity a central part of its satellite expansion.
Direct satellite connections currently offer less capacity than conventional mobile networks. Early services have therefore concentrated on emergency alerts, text messaging and limited data rather than continuous high-speed usage.
Amazon said its proposed constellation will use signal-processing technology intended to improve spectrum efficiency and limit interference. The company expects the system to work with compatible mobile devices without requiring customers to carry a separate satellite terminal.
Launch Capacity Remains an Operational Challenge
Amazon Leo began full-scale deployment in April 2025 and has launch agreements with Arianespace, Blue Origin, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. The contracts cover more than 80 launches, reducing Amazon’s dependence on any single rocket provider.
The company will still need to secure regulatory approval, manufacture thousands of satellites and complete a substantial launch campaign before the mobile constellation can operate at scale. Its FCC application marks the beginning of that process rather than approval to begin commercial service.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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