Overview
- Globalstar shares jumped more than 15% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the Financial Times reported the Amazon talks, and the stock opened higher again on Thursday.
- The companies have not reached a deal, and both Amazon and Globalstar declined to comment on the report.
- Apple owns about 20% of Globalstar and has rights to roughly 85% of its network capacity for iPhone features like Emergency SOS and satellite messaging, a setup that requires separate negotiations.
- Amazon is building its Leo satellite internet service with roughly 180 to 200 satellites in orbit, has asked the FCC for more time on a mid‑2026 deployment deadline, and has signed in‑flight Wi‑Fi deals with Delta and JetBlue starting in 2027–2028.
- A purchase would help Amazon compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has more than 9,500–10,000 satellites and millions of users, and could add Globalstar’s running satellite network and licensed spectrum that speed service for remote customers and connected aircraft.