On Tuesday, Amazon announced a deal to acquire Globalstar, the satellite operator best known for helping power Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhone. The move gives Amazon far more than a modest satellite fleet. It also brings Globalstar’s mobile satellite spectrum, its operating expertise, and perhaps most importantly, Apple as a major long-term partner.
From Geekinter’s perspective, this is where the story gets much more interesting. On the surface, it looks like another satellite industry acquisition. In reality, it is a strategic strike in the wider race against SpaceX’s Starlink, and it could reshape how future iPhones and Apple Watches stay connected when traditional cellular coverage disappears.
Amazon Gets More Than Satellites
Under the agreement, Amazon will acquire Globalstar’s satellite operations, infrastructure, and assets, including its mobile satellite service spectrum licenses. Those licenses are especially valuable because globally authorized spectrum for mobile satellite services is scarce, tightly regulated, and difficult for newer players to secure on their own.
Amazon told GeekWire the transaction was worth about $10.8 billion as of April 9, 2026, when the exchange ratio was set. The final value can still fluctuate with Amazon’s share price until the deal closes, with the transaction capped at $90 of Amazon stock per Globalstar share.
That matters because Amazon is still trying to close a huge gap with Starlink. According to GeekWire’s reporting, Starlink operates around 10,000 satellites and serves more than 9 million subscribers, while Amazon has launched roughly 200 satellites so far and has not yet begun offering consumer service.
Apple May Be the Most Important Bonus in the Deal
Apple was already deeply tied to Globalstar before Amazon stepped in. In 2024, Apple committed roughly $1.5 billion to Globalstar through a mix of advance payments for satellite service and a 20% stake in a Globalstar subsidiary, in exchange for access to much of the network’s capacity.
Now comes the bigger twist: alongside the acquisition announcement, Amazon and Apple also revealed a separate long-term agreement under which Amazon Leo will power satellite features on future supported iPhone and Apple Watch models. Those services are expected to include Emergency SOS via satellite, messaging, Find My location sharing, roadside assistance, and other satellite-based features. Amazon also said it will continue supporting Apple devices that already rely on Globalstar’s current network.
That is a serious upgrade for Amazon’s position. It means this deal is not just about catching up in broadband-from-space. It gives Amazon a meaningful foothold in the direct-to-device satellite market, with Apple already lined up as a premium consumer partner. That is not a side benefit. That is the prize.
Amazon Leo Is Starting to Look Much Bigger Than Kuiper Ever Did
Amazon also used the announcement to reinforce its broader satellite ambitions. The company said Globalstar’s satellites, spectrum, and expertise will help Amazon Leo add direct-to-device (D2D) services to future generations of its low Earth orbit network. Amazon says its own next-generation D2D system is expected to begin deployment in 2028, with support for voice, text, and data services on mobile phones and other cellular devices beyond the reach of traditional networks.
This is part of a larger repositioning. Amazon renamed Project Kuiper to Amazon Leo in November 2025, framing the change as a major step toward commercial service. Then, just one day before the Globalstar announcement, Amazon Leo introduced a new aviation antenna capable of gigabit download speeds for aircraft as part of in-flight Wi-Fi plans involving Delta and JetBlue.
In other words, Amazon is no longer presenting Leo as a narrow internet-from-space project. It is building a broader connectivity platform that spans home broadband, aviation, mobile devices, and enterprise or government use cases.
Why Globalstar Was Worth Buying
Globalstar may look small next to Starlink, but it brings some highly strategic assets to the table. The company, based in Covington, Louisiana, currently operates roughly two dozen low Earth orbit satellites and is already in the middle of an Apple-backed expansion that would increase that number to 54 satellites.
On its own, that still does not put Globalstar anywhere near Starlink’s scale. But scale was never the whole point. Amazon is buying a working satellite operator with regulatory approvals, spectrum rights, an existing services business, and a direct link into Apple’s satellite future. In the satellite business, those are not nice extras. They are the hard parts.
What Happens Next
The acquisition values Globalstar at $90 per share in cash or stock and is expected to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approval. According to the SEC-related details cited by GeekWire, Thermo Funding, which controls 57.6% of Globalstar, has already agreed to the transaction, so no shareholder vote is required.
If regulators approve the deal, Amazon will come out of it with more satellites, more spectrum, and a much stronger hand in the direct-to-device market. Apple, meanwhile, gets a new long-term satellite infrastructure partner with bigger ambitions and deeper resources. And Starlink gets a more serious rival than before.
From Geekinter’s point of view, the headline is simple: Amazon did not just buy Globalstar. It bought time, spectrum, strategic relevance, and a path into Apple’s next phase of satellite connectivity. If Amazon executes well, future iPhones may end up benefiting as much from this deal as Amazon Leo itself.
