On Tuesday, Amazon announced that it would be purchased Globalstara company that develops and operates low-Earth orbit satellites with the spectrum needed to communicate with equipment on the ground. Amazon also says it is partnering with Apple, which has relied on Globalstar to provide off-grid services emergency communication features on devices such as the iPhone and Apple Watch.
The $11.57 billion plan is Amazon’s latest effort to take on Elon Musk’s Star link. It comes at a time when the satellite network becomes important for the spread of AI technologybut it also raises concerns about what happens during our orbit it’s full of garbage.
Here’s what to know about Amazon’s program.
Why did Amazon buy Globalstar?
Amazon started targeting fill the sky and satellites in earnest in 2023, when it launched its first satellite for Project Kuiper. Amazon is now developing that effort under the name Project Leo (LEO is the industry acronym for Low Earth Orbit satellites). The goal is to eventually create a fleet of thousands of satellites that can keep people connected almost anywhere they go, filling the gap between the world’s cellular networks.
As Amazon said in its press release, “Amazon Today’s complete network will include thousands of advanced satellites in low Earth orbit and have enough capacity to support hundreds of millions of customer points around the world.”
Globalstar is a small company in the satellite space, with about 24 satellites currently in orbit. What Amazon offers is a more robust network of GPS asset tracking technology—ideal for tracking packages or delivery vehicles. Amazon will also control Globalstar’s licensing access wireless spectrum which enables signals to be sent from satellites “direct-to-device.” This would give Amazon the ability to launch satellites that connect directly to devices soon, instead of having to go through its country-by-country approval process.
“It’s going into this package of spectrum rights that are already pre-licensed, and that’s going into the big cell phone market,” says Aparna Venkatesan, a professor of astronomy at the University of San Francisco. “It’s going to tie into this huge iPhone market. So I think that’s a compelling business package for Amazon and Apple.”
Apple isn’t the only company offering SOS emergency services via satellite. Google and Samsung both offer it ability on them respective smartphonesand these features are expected to grow in the coming years.
What Does Direct to Device Mean?
Most smartphone connections work by bouncing signals between cell towers. There are plenty of cell towers around the world, but few are in rural areas, offshore, or in countries with limited signal infrastructure.
The purpose of the satellite network is connect directly from the satellite to the device on the ground. To do this, you need a line of sight to the satellite. Which means you need more of them in orbit to see everything.
That’s why companies like Amazon and SpaceX’s Starlink want thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. The higher they are, the more land (or water) they can cover.
Does This Affect My iPhone or Apple Watch?
Apple devices that use Globalstar features, such as the iPhone 14 or newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, shouldn’t see any immediate changes. In a press release, Amazon said the company and Apple “signed an agreement to provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.”
It will be interesting to see how Apple, which has used privacy as a major selling point, will square off with a location-aware service run by Amazon, a company with bad track record of setting users data safe his money product and services.
Does this have anything to do with Starlink?
Starlink, a division of Elon MuskSpaceX, is still the undisputed leader of the satellite internet space. It currently has nearly 10,000 satellites in orbit. In January, Musk filed an application with the FCC to launch one million more build satellites data centers in space.
SpaceX too seems to be opening an IPO most recently, with a reported (and ridiculous) goal of reaching a valuation of $1.75 trillion. Starlink is worth $1 trillion of that. ($250 billion of estimated value goes to XAI horned and racist chatbot Grok.)
When Will These Satellites Rise?
Amazon’s Leo Project already has 241 satellites in orbit. More are slated to launch later this month and through 2027. As for the Globalstar acquisition, Amazon says the transaction is not yet closed, although it expects to be completed in 2027, barring regulatory interference.
“We’re in the very early stages of the process,” Paul Flaningan, a representative in Amazon’s business and corporate development communications, wrote in an email response to WIRED’s request for comment. “Nothing is changing today; both companies will continue to operate independently at this time.”
