US agency approves Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar

The approval removes a regulatory hurdle for Amazon Leo’s plan to integrate Globalstar’s mobile‑satellite network into its direct‑to‑device communications architecture, potentially lowering costs for remote connectivity. The $11.5 billion deal, announced earlier this year, now moves past the clearance stage, opening the way for new service options in underserved regions. Engadget and Light Reading framed the deal as a decisive step toward Amazon Leo’s D2D rollout, while Reuters recorded the FCC’s sign‑off as a milestone for the company’s satellite ambitions.

Fierce Network highlighted that the clearance clears the path for Amazon Leo to begin its D2D deployment schedule, and Benzinga portrayed the transaction as a new boost in Jeff Bezos’s rivalry with Elon Musk. The next phase will involve integrating Globalstar’s constellation into Amazon Leo’s planned D2D service, a move the FCC’s decision suggests will face no immediate regulatory block. Integration timelines and any pending antitrust reviews have not been disclosed, so the industry will watch for rollout announcements that determine how quickly consumers can access an expanded satellite network.

Stakeholders will also monitor statements from the Department of Justice regarding antitrust, and satellite‑service rivals may respond with pricing or partnership moves.