Amazon submitted an application to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 27 to launch up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites. These satellites will support a direct-to-device (D2D) network designed to provide mobile voice, messaging, data, and emergency communications directly to smartphones and other devices without relying on traditional cell towers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].

The D2D network aims to reach users in remote or underserved areas where terrestrial wireless networks have limited or no coverage. Amazon said it "looks forward to delivering on the promise of D2D connectivity, including to the millions of people living, traveling and working in places beyond the reach of existing networks today" [1].

Amazon plans to deploy these satellites starting in 2028. The new constellation will combine the company’s existing Amazon Leo infrastructure with spectrum and satellites from Globalstar, which Amazon agreed to acquire in an $11.6 billion deal expected to close in 2027 [1, 2, 4, 5, 6].

So far, Amazon has launched more than 390 first-generation broadband satellites and intends to begin initial broadband service later this year. The first-generation constellation comprises 3,232 satellites, all of which must be launched by July 2029, after the FCC granted Amazon a waiver allowing a delay in launching 1,600 of those satellites until July 30, 2026 [1, 3, 4].

Unlike some other satellite-based mobile services, Amazon’s D2D network will support standard smartphones directly without requiring users to purchase special devices. Amazon has also secured wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar and formed partnerships with telecom operators such as Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, Australia's National Broadband Network, and T-Mobile to enable satellite-to-cell services [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].

The satellite D2D network will compete with similar services from SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile and satellite carriers like AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. FCC Chair Brendan Carr recently said, "Amazon should focus on its own satellite efforts instead of filing petitions against other companies," signaling regulatory scrutiny of the satellite industry’s competition [3].

Amazon’s next key dates include the planned start of initial broadband service using its current satellites later in 2026, the satellite deployment deadline extension on July 30, 2026, and the full launch completion deadline of all first-generation satellites by July 2029 [1, 3, 4].