Amazon Acquires Globalstar for Rp 197 Trillion, Intensifying Competition with Starlink
Amazon is reportedly acquiring Globalstar, a provider of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite telecommunications services. The value of this deal reaches $11.57 billion, or approximately Rp 197.7 trillion (exchange rate of Rp 17,100 per US dollar).
This step simultaneously strengthens Amazon’s position in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink. The competition is taking place in the rapidly growing global satellite internet services market.
Quoted from Yahoo Finance on Wednesday (22/4/2025), the acquisition of Globalstar is part of Amazon’s strategy to bolster its satellite connectivity business. This move is also aimed at expanding direct-to-device (D2D) services.
Amazon states that acquiring Globalstar will provide access to the company’s satellite operations and infrastructure. In addition, Amazon will obtain licences for mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum with global authorisation.
This agreement allows integration of services into Amazon Leo, Amazon’s satellite network.
Through this integration, Amazon targets the operation of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services starting in 2028.
These services are designed to support voice communications, data, and messaging directly to mobile devices. All these services will no longer rely on cellular towers.
Following the acquisition, this capacity will be expanded within the Amazon Leo ecosystem.
Besides Globalstar, Amazon is also collaborating with Apple. This partnership aims to ensure satellite services continue to operate on iPhone, Apple Watch, and the satellite-based Emergency SOS feature.
Globalstar was previously Apple’s partner for these services on iPhone 14 and newer devices. Apple is known to hold about 20 per cent of shares in Globalstar following its investment in 2024.
Amazon is also building its own satellite network. The target is to reach around 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit by 2029.
About half of that number is targeted to be operational before the regulatory deadline in July 2026.
Meanwhile, Globalstar currently has more than 200 satellites. The company will also add around 24 satellites as part of its new network development.