Amazon is reported to be in advanced talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for about $9 billion (€7.8bn). The move will significantly advance Amazon Leo’s orbiting broadband scheme and compete with arch-rival Starlink.

Globalstar’s shares surged on the news to an 18-year ‘high’, driven by its valuable L-band spectrum and existing infrastructure.

However, the potential deal faces complexity due to Apple’s 20 per cent stake in Globalstar. Apple’s stake in Globalstar delivers emergency connectivity to some Apple iPhone users. Apple made a $1.5 billion investment in Globalstar which enabled the satellite operator to order extra satellites for its fleet.

This move by Amazon would indicate that satellite-based broadband would see two vigorous competitors with its Leo 3,200-craft system competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink. There are other players in the market, not least the likes of Canada-based Telesat and its Lightspeed constellation.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Business, M&A, Satellite

Tags: amazon leo, apple, Global, globalstar, starlink