Amazon has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites for a direct-to-device (D2D) communications network. The proposed system will provide voice, messaging, data, and emergency services directly to compatible mobile devices without relying on traditional cellular towers.
The company plans to combine the new constellation with assets and spectrum from Globalstar, which Amazon agreed to acquire in an $11.6 billion deal announced in April. Amazon expects to complete the acquisition in 2027 and begin deploying the D2D network in 2028.
Amazon designed the network to expand connectivity in areas with limited or no cellular coverage. The system will also support emergency response, remote worksites, fleet operations, supply chains, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It will operate alongside Project Kuiper’s broadband network rather than replace it.
Amazon currently operates more than 390 Project Kuiper satellites in orbit and expects to begin initial broadband service later this year. The company must deploy its planned first-generation constellation of 3,232 satellites by July 2029 under FCC requirements. The D2D network will compete with other satellite-based mobile services, including SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile.