FCC approves Amazon acquisition of Globalstar for 11 point 5 billion dollars

The United States Federal Communications Commission has approved Amazon's 11.5 billion dollar acquisition of Globalstar, Silicon Republic, Data Center Dynamics, Silicon UK, Telecoms, Reuters, and The Next Web all reported. Silicon Republic reported that the regulatory decision was published on October 27, 2026. The transaction was first announced in April 2026, according to Silicon Republic and Wikipedia. [1][2][3][4][5][6][8]

Under the terms of the deal, Amazon will acquire the satellite telecommunications provider's existing satellite operations, infrastructure, and licences, Silicon Republic reported. The tech giant plans to integrate these assets directly into its own space internet service, known as Amazon Leo, as part of an effort to compete with SpaceX's Starlink service, according to Silicon Republic and The Next Web. [1][6]

Globalstar operates a low Earth orbit satellite constellation that provides satellite phone services, low-speed data transmission, and Earth observation. Wikipedia notes that its second-generation constellation contains 25 satellites, while Grokipedia states that the low Earth orbit constellation consists of 24 satellites arranged in eight orbital planes with three satellites each. Grokipedia also notes that Globalstar delivers services through 28 ground stations across 18 countries. [8][10]

Globalstar also utilizes its Band 53 spectrum for private LTE and 5G networks, and offers personal tracking and messaging devices through its SPOT product line, according to Grokipedia. Wikipedia indicates that the acquisition by Amazon is expected to close in 2027. [8][10]