Amazon Reportedly in Talks to Buy Apple Satellite Partner Globalstar
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| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Amazon is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Globalstar, the satellite‑communications firm that supplies Apple’s Emergency SOS‑via‑satellite service. Sources familiar with the talks say Amazon would purchase Apple’s roughly 20 percent stake, giving the e‑commerce giant a foothold in the low‑Earth‑orbit market that Apple has been building since its 2022 partnership with Globalstar.
Apple’s investment in Globalstar, disclosed in a series of SEC filings earlier this year, was intended to secure dedicated bandwidth for iPhone users and to position the company as a serious player in direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite connectivity. The partnership has already enabled iPhone 14 and later models to send distress messages without cellular coverage, and Apple has hinted at expanding the service to data‑heavy applications such as location‑based services and on‑device AI model updates.
Amazon’s interest aligns with its own satellite ambitions. The retailer’s Project Kuiper, still under construction, aims to launch a constellation of over 3,000 satellites to provide broadband to underserved regions. Acquiring Globalstar would instantly grant Amazon access to an operational network, licensed spectrum, and a proven ground‑segment infrastructure, potentially accelerating Kuiper’s rollout and giving Amazon a ready‑made channel for integrating satellite links into AWS IoT, logistics tracking, and even future Echo devices.
The move could reshape the competitive landscape that currently pits SpaceX’s Starlink against a handful of niche providers. Regulators may scrutinise the deal for antitrust concerns, especially given Apple’s reliance on Globalstar for a core safety feature. Investors will be watching the purchase price, the timeline for merging Globalstar’s assets into Amazon’s satellite roadmap, and whether Apple will seek a new partner or develop its own constellation.
Next week’s earnings calls at both companies and a possible SEC filing should reveal whether the transaction will close, how Amazon plans to leverage Globalstar’s spectrum, and what that means for Apple’s satellite strategy.
Sources
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