Amazon to Acquire Globalstar in $11.57B Deal

Amazon has made a significant investment in the realm of space technology, with an $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar. In this way, they can use Globalstar’s starlight infrastructure, spectrum rights, and other resources to further develop its own space ambitions. This acquisition allows Amazon to compete more directly with Starlink, to speed up the development of Project Kuiper, and to expand AWS’s capacity beyond just Earth. It demonstrates the growing trend of large technology companies competing to be the primary provider of broadband access on a national and global basis, from rural broadband to IoT enterprise, and emergency communications. In short, with these acquisitions, space will be the next battleground for global connectivity. Globalstaris known for having a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites, providing communication services for different applications such as mobile and even emergency services. Globalstar’s capacity would bring immense benefit for Amazon’s move into direct-to-device communication, allowing for devices to directly communicate with space-based satellites, cutting out traditional telecom services. The service should launch in the coming years and aims for widespread global coverage. Amazon is also working to launch thousands of satellites to create its own competitive constellation of satellites in the future. Read More: Nissan to Streamline Global Lineup, Expand AI Tech The satellite-based connectivity space is increasingly becoming one for major technological firms to invest in, as there is a global demand for this connectivity in less developed areas, and Starlink has gained a huge lead with its massive network. This purchase from Amazon marks a significant increase in its ambition for satellite-based connectivity and would provide great benefits for the sector, which is likely to be important for communications over the next few years. The purchase still requires regulatory approval and should be completed next year, and could change the face of the sector forever. Share this article Latest News Categories More News