The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized the purchase of satellite operator Globalstar by Amazon, giving the company the regulatory clearance to offer connectivity services directly to smartphones. Through the acquisition, Amazon’s Leo satellite venture secures 25 megahertz of spectrum intended to increase the coverage and capacity of direct-to-device (D2D) communications.
The deal places Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX and other satellite providers as the industry races to control the frequencies required for smartphone connectivity. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that billions of dollars are now flowing into D2D services, and the move provides Amazon with access to Globalstar’s existing partnership with Apple.