On October 27, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the transfer of Globalstar’s and its subsidiaries’ FCC authorizations to Amazon, subject to Amazon’s continued compliance with specified U.S. government agreements. The order clears a regulatory step in the proposed $11.57 billion acquisition; it does not itself complete the transaction or approve Amazon’s separate global direct-to-device (D2D) license application.
What the FCC approved
The FCC consented to the assignment and transfer of control of authorizations held by Globalstar and its subsidiaries to Amazon. The approval also covers Globalstar’s U.S. market-access grant for C-3, a France-licensed constellation of 48 non-geostationary satellites. The FCC granted that market access on October 8, 2026.
The approval is conditioned on Amazon continuing to comply with Globalstar entities’ 1999 and 2004 Letters of Agreement with the Department of War, the Department of Justice and the FBI.
Amazon’s D2D license remains a separate matter
The FCC’s October 27 order says Amazon’s separate application for a global D2D satellite system remained pending. The C-3 market-access grant covered by the transfer is distinct from that application.
Amazon said it planned to begin deploying its next-generation D2D system in 2028. The company described a planned service that would provide voice, data and messaging to phones and other cellular devices. Deployment is a future plan, not a current service launch.
Why the FCC approved the transfer
The FCC found that Amazon and Globalstar did not currently compete to provide the same satellite services. Globalstar principally provided mobile-satellite-service (MSS) offerings and wholesale satellite capacity, while Amazon Leo principally pursued fixed-satellite broadband.
The agency found no horizontal or vertical competitive harms and judged public-interest harms from the transaction unlikely. It cited potential Amazon entry into D2D services, further investment in Globalstar’s MSS network, and better service quality and reliability in unserved or underserved areas as possible public benefits.
What remains before the proposed deal can close
Amazon and Globalstar said on April 14, 2026, that they expected the transaction to close in 2027, subject to closing conditions that include regulatory approvals and milestones for replacement satellites for HIBLEO-4.
Under the proposed terms, Globalstar shareholders may elect $90 in cash or 0.3210 Amazon shares per Globalstar share. The stock consideration is capped at $90 per Globalstar share. Cash elections are capped at 40% of shares overall; elections above that limit convert pro rata to stock. The consideration may also be reduced by up to $110 million if specified operating milestones are missed.
