Amazon is planning a new satellite service that could help smartphones stay connected even without a mobile signal. Reports say the project is part of the company’s Amazon Leo initiative. The company has asked the US Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch up to 5,105 low-earth-orbit satellites for a direct-to-device service. If approved, the service could start in 2028. It is expected to support voice calls, text messages, mobile internet and emergency services. Amazon says it will work with telecom companies to improve mobile coverage in remote areas, disaster-hit regions and other places where regular mobile networks are hard to build.
Unlike the company’s existing satellite broadband service, which provides internet access to homes and businesses, the newly proposed direct-to-device network is designed in a way that compatible smartphones can get access to voice calls, text messages, mobile internet and emergency services even when at the remote locations. The company plans to partner with telecom operators across different countries so the satellite network can extend existing mobile coverage instead of replacing it.
The proposal comes months after Amazon agreed to acquire Globalstar’s satellite operations and spectrum assets. Globalstar currently supports satellite features on eligible Apple devices, including Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite, Find My, location sharing and Roadside Assistance in areas without cellular coverage. Amazon says its upcoming Direct-to-Device service will use Globalstar’s mobile satellite spectrum and that it also plans to work with Apple on future satellite services.
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Amazon says the Direct-to-Device network will complement its existing satellite broadband business rather than replace it. Beyond consumer connectivity, the company believes the satellites can support disaster response, remote industries, fleet management, Internet of Things devices and supply chain monitoring in areas where mobile networks are unavailable.
The company currently has more than 390 satellites in orbit and expects to begin offering fixed broadband services later this year. Amazon has also identified India as an important market, pointing to the country’s growing digital economy and the need to improve connectivity in underserved regions.
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According to Amazon, the network will include up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites spread across five orbital layers to provide coverage across mid-latitude, high-latitude and near-polar regions. The satellites will communicate directly with compatible smartphones using L-band and S-band spectrum, while Ka-band and V-band links will carry data between satellites, ground stations and the wider internet.
Amazon says the satellites will process part of the data in space, which could help improve network performance and reduce delays. The company also plans to use advanced technologies to increase network capacity and minimise signal interference.