Amazon Plans Direct-to-Device Satellite Internet to Rival Starlink

Amazon is planning to launch a satellite internet service that connects directly to devices, similar to the offering already deployed by Starlink. The company has requested permission from United States federal regulators to approve the launch. The service will provide direct connectivity to smartphones, with satellites acting as a replacement for existing mobile towers. Amazon previously discussed the plan for the Direct-to-Device (D2D) network in April, following the acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar in a deal valued at US$11.6 billion. The company expects to begin offering initial services by the end of 2026, utilising more than 5,105 satellites as part of the constellation. Amazon stated that the service aims to deliver connectivity to millions of people who live, travel, and work in areas currently beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. The move positions Amazon as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink, which launched its own Direct-to-Cell service in 2022 and expanded it significantly by 2025. Starlink’s service is already accessible through eight operators across various countries, including T-Mobile in the United States, Optus in Australia, Rogers in Canada, One NZ in New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, Salt in Switzerland, and Entel in Chile and Peru.