Amazon has agreed to purchase satellite communications company Globalstar in a deal valued at $11.57 billion, according to Reuters. The acquisition positions Amazon to directly compete with SpaceX's Starlink in the low-Earth orbit broadband market.
The deal would give Amazon control of Globalstar's existing satellite constellation and spectrum licenses, accelerating its Project Kuiper initiative to deploy over 3,200 satellites. Globalstar currently operates 24 satellites providing voice and data services across the Americas, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Analysts say the purchase could save Amazon years of deployment time and regulatory hurdles. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Neither company has disclosed an expected closing timeline.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing