Amazon is merging with satellite provider Globalstar Inc. to bolster its competing low Earth orbit (LEO) network, codenamed Leo. Globalstar is already known for powering the emergency satellite connectivity feature available on recent compatible iPhones and Watches, a fact Amazon’s announcement conspicuously sidestepped.

This acquisition directly pits Amazon against SpaceX’s Starlink in the burgeoning direct-to-device satellite sector. The agreement stipulates that Leo will continue powering Apple’s satellite services for existing and future supported devices, suggesting a continuation of the current emergency SOS functionality that many users rely upon now.

An odd detail involves Apple’s 20 percent stake in Globalstar, purchased for $1.5 billion in 2024, which received no mention in the joint release. Amazon’s direct-to-device service roll-out is tentatively slated for 2028, though the entire transaction is not expected to finalize until 2027, pending regulatory approval.

Regulators are a factor, as Amazon needs to deploy 1,600 satellites by July 2026 but currently projects having only about 700 operational by that FCC deadline. The company must secure an extension from the commission to meet its orbital requirements for Leo’s expansion.