Amazon Acquires Globalstar for $10.8 Billion in Major Satellite Internet Expansion
Why It Matters
Amazon’s $10.8 billion acquisition of Globalstar marks one of the most significant moves in the rapidly expanding satellite internet market, positioning the tech giant to compete more aggressively with established players in the global connectivity space. The deal signals a major escalation in the race to deliver broadband internet from low-Earth orbit, with implications for consumers, businesses, and national infrastructure across the United States and beyond.
For American consumers and rural communities still lacking reliable broadband access, the consolidation of satellite internet providers could reshape how connectivity is delivered — and at what cost to end users.
What Happened
Amazon announced it will acquire Globalstar, a satellite communications company, in a deal valued at approximately $10.8 billion. The acquisition is part of Amazon’s broader push to expand its Project Kuiper satellite internet service, which aims to deliver broadband connectivity via a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites.
Globalstar operates its own network of satellites and holds licensed spectrum assets that are considered highly valuable in the telecommunications industry. By absorbing Globalstar’s infrastructure and spectrum holdings, Amazon would gain a significant technical and regulatory advantage in its effort to build out a competitive satellite internet service.
The deal represents one of Amazon’s largest acquisitions in recent years and underscores the company’s commitment to competing directly with SpaceX’s Starlink service, which has already achieved a substantial subscriber base worldwide.
By the Numbers
$10.8 billion — the reported value of Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar, making it one of the largest satellite industry transactions on record.
3,236 satellites — the number Amazon has been authorized by federal regulators to deploy as part of its Project Kuiper constellation, though deployment is still underway.
Millions of Americans — estimated to still lack access to reliable high-speed broadband internet, particularly in rural and underserved areas where satellite service is often the only viable option.
Billions in spectrum value — Globalstar’s licensed radio frequency spectrum is considered among the most valuable assets in the deal, as usable spectrum is a finite and heavily regulated resource. Companies like Berkshire Hathaway’s electric utility recently demonstrated how regulatory wins over infrastructure assets can translate into billions in value — a parallel dynamic at play in spectrum acquisition.
Zoom Out
The Amazon-Globalstar deal fits into a broader national and global trend of technology companies racing to control satellite-based internet infrastructure. SpaceX’s Starlink has been the dominant commercial player in low-Earth orbit broadband, having signed agreements with governments, airlines, maritime operators, and the U.S. military. Amazon’s Project Kuiper has been slower to market but has the financial resources to mount a serious competitive challenge.
The satellite internet sector has also taken on strategic national security dimensions. The U.S. government has increasingly recognized the importance of resilient, space-based communications networks, particularly as geopolitical tensions rise. Recent U.S. military operations have highlighted the critical role of secure, redundant communications infrastructure in high-stakes environments — a need that commercial satellite networks are increasingly being called upon to support.
Several other major corporations and governments — including those in Europe and Asia — are also developing or expanding satellite broadband capabilities, making spectrum access and satellite infrastructure increasingly contested resources on the world stage.
What’s Next
The acquisition will likely require review and approval from federal regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission and potentially the Department of Justice’s antitrust division. Given the size of the transaction and the strategic importance of Globalstar’s spectrum assets, regulatory scrutiny is expected.
If approved, Amazon would need to integrate Globalstar’s satellite network and spectrum licenses into its Project Kuiper framework — a complex technical and administrative process that could take years to fully execute. The company is expected to accelerate satellite launches as it works to close the competitive gap with Starlink.
Market analysts will be watching closely to see how the acquisition affects pricing and availability of satellite broadband services, particularly in rural markets where competition has historically been limited and consumers have had few alternatives to expensive or slow connectivity options.