The FCC’s Space Bureau approved Amazon Leo’s application to acquire approximately 25 MHz of Globalstar’s internationally harmonized mobile-satellite service spectrum. With yesterday’s approval, the Commission wraps up its review of Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion purchase of Globalstar. The agency says the companies’ “complementary assets” promise to enhance Amazon Leo’s entry into the direct-to-device segment and create a stronger satellite operator capable of offering fixed and mobile services to residential, business, and government customers.
Amazon plans to use Globalstar’s mobile satellite spectrum and infrastructure to augment existing services with additional capacity and new capabilities, including broader connectivity “beyond the reach of terrestrial wireless networks,” according to the agency. The FCC determined the transaction “is likely to benefit the public by enhancing data coverage in unserved or underserved areas, strengthening emergency communications capabilities, fostering growth in industrial and enterprise data services, and promoting more intensive use of mobile satellite service spectrum.”
“By approving this deal, the FCC has empowered Amazon Leo to deliver fast, next-gen satellite broadband services, increase competition, and help communities stay connected all across the country,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
The approval follows the Space Bureau’s decision last week to grant Globalstar’s request for U.S. market access for its non-geostationary C-3 System, Inside Towers reported. The C-3 system may use 1610–1618.725 MHz for Earth-to-space mobile-satellite service links and 2483.5–2500 MHz for space-to-Earth service links. Following the close of its transaction with Globalstar, Amazon Leo may use the C-3 System grant to build and launch this newly authorized system.
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