FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed openness to the proposed deal between Amazon and Global-star on CNBC today, signaling a potential path forward for the satellite-based connectivity merger.
The deal aims to combine Globalstar’s spectrum and mobile satellite services (MSS) capabilities with the scale of Amazon’s upcoming low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. According to a merger press release, the partnership intends to provide continuous connectivity for consumer, enterprise, and government customers in remote areas.
While Amazon still requires formal approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Carr noted the deal aligns with US strategic goals. “We’re very open-minded to [the deal],” Carr told CNBC, adding that the combination is “consistent with the long-term vision that we have to make sure that the US leads in this next-gen era of direct-to-cell technologies.”
Competition in direct-to-cell market
Carr stated his goal is to see at least three major satellite operators in the direct-to-cell market, mirroring the competitive structure of the US terrestrial cellular industry, which includes AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. He noted that Amazon and Starlink face competition from AST SpaceMobile, which has established partnerships with both AT&T and Verizon.
The merger comes during a period of heightened regulatory friction between Amazon and SpaceX. Amazon recently petitioned the FCC to deny SpaceX’s request to launch up to 1 million satellites.
Carr previously criticized Amazon's tactics in a recent filing. “Amazon should focus on the fact that it will fall roughly 1,000 satellites short of meeting its upcoming deployment milestone, rather than spending their time and resources filing petitions against companies that are putting thousands of satellites in orbit,” Carr wrote.
Amazon’s satellite deployment timeline has also faced scrutiny. The company was originally scheduled to launch half of its constellation by July 30, 2026. However, Amazon informed the FCC in January that its 'Amazon Leo' project is currently producing satellites faster than available launch capacities can accommodate.
