Amazon's Leo subsidiary has proposed a constellation of up to 5,105 satellites to provide direct-to-device (D2D) voice, messaging, data, and emergency services. The company filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval for the network, which would serve areas beyond the reach of terrestrial cellular networks. Deployment is expected to begin in 2028, pending regulatory approval. The service will partner with global mobile network operators and utilize the mobile satellite spectrum of Globalstar, which Amazon agreed to acquire earlier this year for $11.6 billion.
Expanding Satellite Ambitions
The proposed network expands Amazon's satellite ambitions beyond broadband internet, intensifying competition in the D2D market with SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk Global. The service will support emergency operations, remote worksites, fleet management, and IoT connectivity. Amazon has already partnered with telecom operators including Vodafone, DirecTV, HeroTel, and Australia’s National Broadband Network.
Challenges and Constraints
A growing shortage of rocket launch capacity has emerged as a significant constraint for deploying next-generation satellite constellations. Amazon Leo has been working on its internet-from-space network since April 2023, aiming to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. The company currently has over 390 satellites in orbit and expects to begin initial service later this year. The FCC recently granted Amazon a waiver to delay the deployment of 1,600 of its first-generation satellites, though it must still launch all 3,232 planned satellites by July 2029.