FCC CLEARS AMAZON'S $11.5 BILLION GLOBALSTAR DEAL IN SATELLITE RACE WITH STARLINK

The FCC approved Amazon Leo's $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar on October 27, clearing Amazon's satellite arm to build a communications network to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.

Through the deal, Amazon adds Globalstar's roughly two dozen satellites and its mobile-satellite spectrum to its own network, which has launched nearly 400 satellites since April 2025.

Amazon has committed to investing more than $10 billion in Leo and is preparing to roll out commercial satellite services by the end of 2026, according to the FCC.

The FCC said the assets will boost Amazon Leo's entry into the direct-to-device market and allow it to offer fixed and mobile services, including better coverage in unserved areas.

The approval sharpens the race for satellite internet, where Starlink currently dominates with thousands of satellites already in orbit.