Amazon's Satellite Network Now Includes iPhone Emergency Communication... Acquires Globalstar

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has entered into a merger agreement to acquire satellite communications provider Globalstar in a cash-and-stock deal and will supply its low Earth orbit satellite network, Amazon Leo, for Apple iPhone and Apple Watch satellite services.

Globalstar shareholders may elect to receive either $90 per share in cash or Amazon common stock. The transaction is valued at approximately $11.6 billion (roughly KRW 15 trillion) and is expected to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and the achievement of specified satellite milestones.

Separately, Amazon Stores CEO Douglas Herrington sold part of his holdings under a prearranged trading plan, while AWS CEO Matthew Garman was granted a substantial new RSU award vesting from 2027 through 2032 to bolster long-term incentives.

Amazon recently launched the enterprise beta of its satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, aiming for a commercial rollout in mid-2026. Through partnerships with carriers such as AT&T, the company is expanding its enterprise connectivity solutions.

In its Q4 2025 earnings release, Amazon announced plans to invest about $200 billion (approximately KRW 260 trillion) in 2026 across data centers, AI, and satellite infrastructure, reflecting an aggressive push into integrated cloud and satellite network investments.

Headquartered in Seattle, Amazon is a global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing, with a diversified portfolio spanning online retail, AWS, advertising, and digital content. In the low Earth orbit satellite internet market, Amazon is challenging SpaceX’s Starlink and others. As direct-to-device connectivity between satellites and smartphones emerges as a key growth driver, competition for spectrum and infrastructure is intensifying.