News item
Amazon Proposes 5,105-Satellite Direct-to-Device Network
The planned Amazon Leo constellation would connect compatible mobile devices directly from low Earth orbit.
July 2026 — United States
Amazon has filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deploy up to 5,105 satellites for a new direct-to-device communications network.
The proposed Amazon Leo system is designed to deliver voice, messaging, data and emergency services directly to compatible mobile devices in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial cell towers. Amazon plans to work with mobile-network operators rather than operate as a replacement for existing cellular networks.
The company intends to use Globalstar’s spectrum and begin satellite deployment in 2028, subject to regulatory approval. Amazon says the system will use advanced signal processing to manage spectrum efficiently and limit interference with terrestrial services.
The proposal remains an application, not an approved or operational network. Its final scale and deployment schedule may change during the regulatory and technical review process.
Economically, direct-to-device connectivity could significantly expand the satellite-services market by allowing ordinary mobile devices to access space-based coverage without specialised satellite terminals. It also reflects increasing convergence between the satellite and telecommunications industries, where spectrum access, operator partnerships and network integration are becoming as important as launch capacity.
Source: Amazon.