SEATTLE, 14 April 2026 — Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) said it will acquire satellite communications firm Globalstar Inc. in a US$11.57 billion deal, strengthening its satellite internet ambitions as it seeks to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Shares of Globalstar rose more than 9% in premarket trading following the announcement, after already gaining over 6% in the past two weeks amid reports of acquisition discussions. The stock had nearly doubled in value last year and climbed about 12% so far this year before news of the deal emerged.
Deal Structure and Shareholder Options
Under the agreement, Globalstar shareholders can elect to receive either US$90 in cash or 0.3210 shares of Amazon common stock for each share they own, the companies said.
The acquisition supports Amazon’s plan to scale up its satellite communications network under its low-Earth orbit (LEO) initiative.
Amazon Expands Satellite Ambitions
Amazon aims to deploy about 3,200 satellites in low-Earth orbit by 2029, with roughly half required to be operational by a July 2026 regulatory deadline.
The company currently operates more than 200 satellites and is preparing to roll out satellite internet services later this year.
Amazon’s satellite effort was launched in 2019 by founder Jeff Bezos under Project Kuiper, now known as Amazon Leo.
Starlink Remains Market Leader
Rival Starlink, operated by SpaceX, currently dominates the satellite internet market with more than 10,000 satellites serving over nine million users globally.
Globalstar’s Existing Network
Louisiana-based Globalstar operates about two dozen satellites in low-Earth orbit and provides voice, data and asset-tracking services to enterprise, government and consumer customers.
The company is also known for powering Apple’s Emergency SOS feature. It previously said a new Apple-backed network under development would expand its constellation to 54 satellites, including backup units.
The acquisition is expected to accelerate Amazon’s push into satellite-based connectivity, intensifying competition in the rapidly growing space-based internet market.
