Amazon files FCC application for 5,105-satellite direct-to-device network by 2028

Amazon has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a new satellite constellation that would provide direct-to-device cellular service globally. The company aims to begin deploying the network of 5,105 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2028, pending regulatory approval.

The service is intended to offer voice, messaging, data, and emergency connectivity directly to standard mobile phones, without requiring specialized hardware. Amazon plans to partner with mobile network operators to deliver the service, similar to the arrangement between SpaceX's Starlink and T-Mobile. This initiative would affect consumers and mobile carriers worldwide, potentially expanding cellular coverage to remote and underserved areas.

The move matters because it intensifies competition in the emerging direct-to-device satellite market, where SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and others are also developing similar capabilities. If successful, Amazon's network could provide a backup communication channel during natural disasters and help bridge the digital divide in regions lacking terrestrial infrastructure.

Earlier this year, Amazon announced it would acquire Globalstar's satellite network and take over its agreement to provide direct-to-device satellite services for Apple devices. The new constellation would be separate from Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband satellites, which are designed for fixed internet access.

The FCC has not yet ruled on Amazon's application. The company will need to secure spectrum coordination and orbital slots before proceeding. Amazon has not disclosed which mobile operators it plans to partner with, but the filing signals its intent to enter the satellite-to-phone market by the end of the decade.