Amazon plans to deploy over 5,000 satellites for new telecom service

Amazon is seeking to establish a global telecommunications network, aiming to connect billions of people in underserved areas. The tech giant's subsidiary, Leo, has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy more than 5,100 satellites in low Earth orbit.

The proposed "direct-to-device" service intends to offer voice, messaging, and emergency communications, alongside high-speed, low-latency broadband. Amazon stated the system will "bridge this divide" for consumer, enterprise, and government clients, particularly in regions beyond the reach of current networks. The company envisions applications ranging from personal use to uninterrupted disaster response, global fleet management, and remote operations.

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There are billions of customers around the world living in places beyond the reach of existing communications networks. The core Amazon Leo system will help bridge this divide by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide range of consumer, enterprise and government customers.

This initiative follows Amazon's significant $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar, a mobile satellite services provider, in April. Amazon Leo has already forged partnerships with established telecom operators like DirecTV, HeroTel, and Vodafone. If the FCC approves the application, the satellite network could become operational as early as 2028, marking a substantial expansion of Amazon's reach into the telecommunications sector.

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In addition to personal use, the D2D service will enable capabilities like uninterrupted communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging when ground-based networks are unavailable.