Amazon Asks FCC to Approve 5,100-Satellite Direct-to-Phone Network
The company's Leo unit says the low Earth orbit system could begin service in early 2028 if regulators sign off.
Amazon has asked federal regulators for permission to build a satellite network of more than 5,100 spacecraft that would beam voice, messaging and emergency service directly to devices in areas with little or no connectivity.
The company's Leo subsidiary said Monday it had filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a "direct-to-device" telecommunications service using satellites in low Earth orbit. If approved, the network would begin operating in early 2028, according to the company.
"There are billions of customers around the world living in places beyond the reach of existing communications networks," Amazon said in a statement. "The core Amazon Leo system will help bridge this divide by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide range of consumer, enterprise and government customers."
The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the application.
The filing follows Amazon's acquisition in April of Globalstar, a leading mobile satellite services provider, in a deal valued at $11.6 billion. Amazon Leo has since struck partnerships with telecom operators including DirecTV, HeroTel and Vodafone, the unit said.
Beyond consumer use, Amazon said the direct-to-device service would support "uninterrupted communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging when ground-based networks are unavailable."
Direct-to-device technology allows ordinary handsets to connect to satellites without specialized equipment, a capability telecom companies have pursued as a way to fill gaps in terrestrial coverage. The size of the proposed constellation — more than 5,100 satellites — would place Amazon among the largest operators of low Earth orbit spacecraft if the system is fully deployed.
The company did not disclose the projected cost of the network or a launch schedule for the satellites. Regulatory review by the FCC would need to be completed before deployment could proceed on the timeline Amazon described.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.