Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite communications operator Globalstar in a move that could bolster its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite ambitions and sharpen competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The potential deal, which remains under negotiation and could still change or collapse, would give Amazon a ready-made LEO network as it races to build out its Kuiper satellite internet service, FT said.
Globalstar, founded in 1991, operates communications satellites in low-Earth orbit and has seen its share price surge in recent months on the back of takeover speculation. Amazon has so far launched just over 180 satellites, leaving what FT described as a “significant gap” with SpaceX’s Starlink, which operates more than 10,000.
People briefed on the talks said discussions between Amazon and Globalstar have been going on for a long time and that several complex issues remain unresolved. Chief among them is Apple’s role: the iPhone maker holds a 20% stake in Globalstar and is a key commercial partner, complicating any change of control.
Apple teamed up with Globalstar in 2022 to enable iPhone users to send messages via satellite from remote areas without cellular coverage. In 2024, Apple invested $1.5 billion in Globalstar, securing the 20% equity stake that now requires Amazon to negotiate directly with Apple as part of any transaction structure, according to the FT.
The sources stressed that no final agreement has been reached and that deal terms, valuation and the future of Apple’s commercial arrangements with Globalstar remain open questions.
Globalstar, responding to the report, said it was the company’s policy not to comment on “industry speculation or rumors.” Amazon also declined to comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The talks come as Amazon accelerates Kuiper, the satellite broadband project it rebranded at the end of last year. The company has secured U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval to launch an additional 4,500 second-generation satellites, underscoring its intention to challenge Starlink’s dominance in space-based internet.
An acquisition of Globalstar would potentially give Amazon quicker access to spectrum, ground infrastructure and an existing customer base, while adding regulatory and partnership complexities because of Apple’s entrenched position.
The rivalry would add a new front to the long-running competition between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the commercial space sector. Bezos already faces Musk through his space company Blue Origin, which competes with SpaceX in launch services and deep-space projects.
Industry analysts say a successful deal could reshape the balance of power in LEO communications, but warn that regulatory scrutiny, cross-shareholdings and the need to preserve Apple’s service commitments could yet derail Amazon’s bid.
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