FCC approves Amazon Leo’s $11.5B acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar, setting up a new satellite connectivity battle with Elon Musk’s Spacex
The C-3 System may use 1610–1618.725 MHz for Earth-to-space mobile-satellite service links and 2483.5–2500 MHz for space-to-Earth service links. The authorization also covers feeder links and telemetry, tracking, and command operations in the 5091–5250 MHz Earth-to-space and 6875–7055 MHz space-to-Earth bands. Following the close of its transaction with Globalstar, Amazon Leo may use the C-3 System grant to build and launch this newly authorized system. Earlier this year, the Space Bureau granted SpaceX’s authorization to build, launch, and deploy a 15,000 satellite D2D constellation, as well as AST SpaceMobile’s authorization for a 248-satellite system.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar to “acquire approximately 25 megahertz of Globalstar’s internationally harmonized mobile-satellite service spectrum”. In a press release, the regulator said: “The companies’ complementary assets promise to enhance Amazon Leo’s entry into the direct-to-device segment and create a stronger satellite operator capable of offering fixed and mobile services to residential, business, and government customers”. The approval further strengthens the company’s satellite communications business as it prepares to challenge Elon Musk’s SpaceX.