Amazon’s Leo, the tech giant subsidiary responsible for providing low-latency broadband connectivity, has proposed a constellation of up to 5,105 satellites to provide direct-to-device voice and data connectivity, joining a growing race among satellite operators, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, to beam cellular services directly to smartphones.
“The proposed network would provide voice, messaging, data and emergency services in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial cellular networks, with satellite deployment beginning in 2028,” said LEO, which has already filed an application with the United States Federal Communications Commission seeking quick approval for the plan.
The service would partner with mobile network operators globally and use the mobile satellite spectrum of Globalstar, which Amazon agreed to acquire earlier in 2026.
The reason behind the strategic acquisition was the Globalstar’s expertise in providing device-to-device connectivity for millions of Apple device users by enabling emergency messaging, location sharing, and roadside assistance while out of the reach of terrestrial networks.
“Amazon will acquire Globalstar’s existing satellite operations, infrastructure, and assets, including mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum licenses with global authorizations, that will enable Amazon to add D2D services to its growing low Earth orbit satellite network. The D2D system will operate alongside Leo’s first- and second-generation satellite broadband systems—as well as Globalstar’s HIBLEO and C-3 satellite constellations—extending Leo satellite connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices,” the tech giant stated further.
Knowing the project in detail
The proposed constellation’s goal will be simple: to connect billions of customers around the world living in places beyond the reach of existing communications networks.
The core Amazon Leo system will help bridge this digital divide by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide range of consumer, enterprise, and government customers, with customers connecting to the network using one of several compact, high-performance antennas: Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra.
“The Leo D2D System will complement that core broadband service, delivering high-speed connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices. In addition to personal use, the D2D service will enable capabilities like uninterrupted communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging when ground-based networks are unavailable,” Amazon said.
“In the large parts of the world where mobile phones serve as the primary means of internet connection, the Leo D2D System will give customers greater speed and throughput to expand what they can accomplish today. The system is designed to reach any compatible mobile device—including any of the growing number of smartphones from major manufacturers that have satellite-capable chipsets built in,” it added further.
Amazon Leo has entered into an agreement with Apple to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models, including Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, and to collaborate with the Silicon Valley giant on future satellite services using the expanded network.
“Leo will distribute its D2D satellites across five orbital shells, each optimized to reach different parts of the planet. The three mid-latitude shells provide dense coverage across heavily populated regions, while the higher-inclination shells extend service toward polar areas. The satellites will communicate with mobile devices using dedicated radio frequencies (L-band and S-band spectrum links). Connections between the satellites and Amazon’s ground stations will use separate high-capacity radio links (Ka-band and V-band spectrum) that carry aggregated traffic between the satellite network and the internet, much like a backhaul connection for a cell tower,” Amazon remarked.
Unlike conventional satellites that simply relay signals to the ground (known in the industry as ‘bent pipe’ satellites), Leo’s D2D satellites will process the signals in orbit before relaying them to improve performance.
Also, Leo’s D2D satellites will be equipped with optical inter-satellite links, laser connections between the satellites in orbit, to support intelligent traffic routing across the constellation.
The satellites will be using digital beamforming and beam-hopping to direct concentrated signals precisely where and when they are needed. This will maximize coverage while minimizing wasted power and interference.
Acquisition of the Globalstar, along with the newly announced satellite constellation, will expand Amazon’s satellite ambitions beyond broadband Internet, apart from intensifying competition in the direct-to-device market with SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk Global, which are also developing satellite-to-phone services.
Amazon Leo has already announced partnerships with telecom operators like Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, and Australia’s National Broadband Network, and it has plans to continue working with mobile network operators and other partners to deliver on its long-term vision for space-based connectivity.
“The Leo D2D System will complement existing mobile networks, filling coverage gaps where terrestrial deployment is impractical, cost-prohibitive, or vulnerable to disruption,” Amazon noted.
Amazon Leo is currently deploying its first-generation broadband satellite system and already has more than 390 satellites in orbit, providing enough coverage to begin rolling out fixed service across initial latitude bands later in 2026.