FCC approves Amazon Leo's $11.5bn purchase of Globalstar, satellite provider behind iPhone SOS

The US Federal Communications Commission has approved Amazon Leo's $11.5bn purchase of Globalstar, the company that runs the satellite service behind emergency features on Apple's iPhone, according to The Next Web.

The FCC's Space Bureau cleared the transfer of about 25 megahertz of Globalstar's mobile-satellite spectrum on Tuesday, 27 October, the outlet reported. That approval ends the regulator's review of the deal. Amazon agreed to buy Globalstar in April, and the deal gives Amazon Leo Globalstar's two dozen satellites and its spectrum, The Next Web reported, citing Reuters.

“By approving this deal, the FCC has empowered Amazon Leo to deliver fast, next-gen satellite broadband services, increase competition, and help communities stay connected all across the country.”Brendan Carr, FCC Chair

The spectrum matters most for Amazon's direct-to-device plans, according to The Next Web. Direct-to-device service lets phones and other gadgets connect straight to satellites without a mobile mast. The FCC said Amazon plans to use the spectrum to add capacity and reach places that ground networks do not cover. The regulator found the deal likely to benefit the public by improving coverage in unserved and underserved areas and strengthening emergency communications, and found no material harm to the public interest.

The deal also touches Apple. Globalstar powers Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite on iPhone and Apple Watch. Citing Reuters, The Next Web reported that Amazon has signed an agreement with Apple to keep providing those services. Apple invested about $1.5bn in Globalstar in 2024 for a 20% stake and made up about 63% of Globalstar's revenue last year. Amazon plans to buy Apple's stake, the FCC said, according to Reuters.

Amazon said in a statement quoted by Reuters that the approval "brings us a step closer to bringing new connectivity capabilities to customers."

The approval comes as Amazon competes with SpaceX in low Earth orbit. Amazon Leo has launched nearly 400 satellites since April 2025 and plans thousands by 2029, while Starlink has more than 11,000, the outlet reported, citing Reuters. Amazon has committed more than $10bn to Leo and plans to start commercial service by the end of 2026.

Several questions remain open. The report does not say when the deal will close. Last week the FCC let Globalstar serve the US with its planned 48-satellite C-3 System, which Amazon Leo may build and launch once the deal closes, but no timeline was given. Amazon's July request to approve up to 5,105 direct-to-device satellites is still pending in the report. The terms of the Apple agreement and the price for Apple's stake were not disclosed.

The FCC was also set to vote on Thursday, 29 October, on a proposed auction of more spectrum for direct-to-device services, The Next Web reported.

RM Roger Morais Editor Roger Morais is a Portuguese-American journalist and web developer who founded RogerLe.com in 1996. He spent ten years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where he was a senior web developer, and now travels Europe full-time by motorhome. He decides what morais.news covers and approves every piece before it is published.