Amazon Buys Globalstar for $11.57 Billion to Challenge SpaceX Starlink
Amazon agreed to acquire satellite operator Globalstar on April 16, 2026, in an all-cash-and-stock deal worth $11.57 billion. The purchase adds Globalstar's two dozen satellites to Amazon's existing fleet and puts it in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink.
Amazon is buying satellite operator Globalstar for $11.57 billion, the company announced on April 16, 2026.
The all-cash-and-stock deal adds Globalstar's roughly two dozen satellites to Amazon's existing fleet of approximately 200 satellites. The acquisition accelerates Amazon's push into satellite-based internet and puts it in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink.
Amazon has been building its own satellite internet service, Project Kuiper, for several years. Adding Globalstar's infrastructure gives the company more capacity and broader coverage for consumer devices and enterprise data needs.
SpaceX's Starlink currently leads the satellite internet market with thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit. Amazon's acquisition signals that the race for space-based connectivity is intensifying among major technology companies.
The deal comes as demand for satellite internet grows in rural areas and in regions where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited. It also reflects broader interest in space infrastructure as a foundation for AI data centers and global communications.
Amazon has separately pledged to buy up to 5 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2039 to fuel its data centers, as the company faces growing energy demands from its cloud and AI operations.
The Globalstar acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. Terms were not disclosed beyond the total deal value.
