Amazon just put Elon Musk's Starlink on notice

Chances are, you person ne'er thought overmuch astir who owns the satellites keeping your telephone connected successful the mediate of nowhere. That could alteration soon. Amazon is betting $11.57 cardinal that you volition commencement paying attention. Its acquisition of Globalstar is simply a large determination against Starlink, and the stakes spell acold beyond bragging rights.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

• Get my champion tech tips, urgent information alerts and exclusive deals delivered consecutive to your inbox.
• For simple, real-world ways to spot scams aboriginal and enactment protected, sojourn CyberGuy.com - trusted by millions who ticker CyberGuy connected TV daily.
• Plus, you'll get instant entree to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide escaped erstwhile you join.

AMAZON TAKES ON ELON MUSK, LAUNCHING 27 INTERNET SATELLITES

Amazon is making a large outer propulsion with Globalstar, aiming to situation Starlink and grow direct-to-device connectivity for distant users. (Manuel Mazzanti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What Amazon's Globalstar woody means for you

Globalstar has operated for much than 30 years arsenic a mobile outer services provider. It brings thing Amazon needed badly: spectrum. The institution operates successful Band 53, a portion of spectrum from 2483.5 to 2495 MHz. It describes this aslicensed spectrum with planetary authorizations designed to enactment fast, low-latency connectivity with reduced interference. That matters. Spectrum is limited, and having entree to it gives Amazon a existent edge. 

Amazon is besides getting Globalstar's satellites, infrastructure and planetary licenses. It is simply a afloat package. But the existent worth is the spectrum. This woody is besides astir what that spectrum enables. Amazon plans to usage it to powerfulness direct-to-device outer services, allowing phones to nonstop texts, marque calls and entree information adjacent erstwhile determination is nary cellular signal. 

The strategy is expected to rotation retired starting successful 2028 and volition enactment features connected devices similar iPhones and Apple Watches, including exigency messaging and roadside assistance. That turns this into much than an infrastructure deal. It is simply a displacement successful however mundane devices enactment connected beyond accepted networks.

Amazon vs Starlink: Where things basal now

Let's beryllium wide astir the gap. Starlink serves much than 9 cardinal users and has astir 10,000 satellites successful orbit. Amazon's Leo web has conscionable implicit 200 satellites. Adding Globalstar's 2 twelve hardly moves the number. So wherefore walk $11.57 billion? Because this woody is not astir outer count. It is astir aboriginal capability. 

Amazon plans to motorboat a next-generation direct-to-device strategy successful 2028. This would present voice, information and messaging consecutive to phones. The Globalstar woody gives Amazon the tools to marque that happen. It brings spectrum, infrastructure and acquisition together.

MUSK CONFIRMS SPACEX SUCCESS IN PREVENTING RUSSIAN MILITARY FROM ACCESSING STOLEN STARLINK UNITS

Amazon’s planned Globalstar acquisition gives it spectrum, satellites and infrastructure to powerfulness outer texting, calls and information beyond compartment coverage. (Manuel Mazzanti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Amazon's outer work volition powerfulness iPhones and Apple Watches

This is wherever the communicative hits home. Amazon and Apple person an statement for Amazon Leo to enactment outer features connected iPhones and Apple Watches. That includes Emergency SOS via satellite. If you trust connected that diagnostic successful a dormant zone, it volition soon tally done Amazon's network. Apple says the work has already helped successful existent emergencies, including stranded hikers and clang victims rescued successful distant areas. Amazon volition proceed supporting existent devices utilizing Globalstar's strategy portion moving with Apple connected aboriginal upgrades. So thing breaks, but the strategy down it changes.

Amazon outer timeline and FCC approval

The woody inactive needs regulatory approval, and that takes time. Amazon expects it to adjacent successful 2027. The FCC volition decide, though aboriginal signs look positive. Amazon besides faces a deadline. It plans to deploy astir 3,200 satellites by 2029. About fractional indispensable beryllium successful orbit by July 2026. That timeline adds unit to determination fast.

What this means for agrarian and distant users

This woody matters astir successful places wherever compartment towers bash not reach. Satellite connectivity tin enactment arsenic a backup during disasters similar hurricanes oregon wildfires. In those moments, having nary awesome tin beryllium dangerous. But the interaction goes beyond emergencies. Remote workers, trucking fleets, maritime crews and agrarian communities each basal to benefit. These are places wherever accepted networks autumn short. Amazon's afloat Leo web volition see thousands of satellites. It aims to enactment hundreds of millions of devices worldwide.

Take my quiz: How harmless is your online security?

Think your devices and information are genuinely protected? Take this speedy quiz to spot wherever your integer habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing close and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com    

BLUE ORIGIN LAUNCHES 38TH NEW SHEPARD FLIGHT INTO SPACE

Amazon launched its 2nd fleet of 27 Project Kuiper net satellites successful Cape Canaveral, Florida, connected June 23, 2025, to make a mega constellation which volition connection planetary broadband net access. (GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Kurt's cardinal takeaways

Amazon's $11.57 cardinal acquisition of Globalstar sends a wide message. It does not program to fto Starlink predominate the sky. Right now, the outer spread is massive. Amazon knows that. Instead, it is betting connected amended spectrum, smarter exertion and cardinal partnerships similar Apple. Amazon enforcement Panos Panay says billions of radical inactive deficiency reliable connectivity. Amazon wants to adjacent that gap. That is simply a existent occupation and a superior opportunity. The large question is speed. Can Amazon standard accelerated capable to vie earlier Starlink pulls further ahead?

If 2 of the richest companies successful the satellite are racing to power the sky, who decides however that entree is priced and delivered? And what does that mean for you? Let america cognize by penning to america astatine Cyberguy.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

• Get my champion tech tips, urgent information alerts and exclusive deals delivered consecutive to your inbox.
• For simple, real-world ways to spot scams aboriginal and enactment protected, sojourn CyberGuy.com - trusted by millions who ticker CyberGuy connected TV daily.
• Plus, you'll get instant entree to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide escaped erstwhile you join. 

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.