Amazon Leo plans to connect smartphones and other mobile devices directly from space—bringing voice, messaging, data, and emergency services to areas beyond the reach of cell towers. The company has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to launch and operate the Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device (D2D) System, a constellation of up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites designed to deliver D2D connectivity to customers globally, with deployment beginning in 2028.
The filing follows a definitive merger agreement with Globalstar in April, which will see Amazon acquire Globalstar’s existing satellite operations, infrastructure, and assets, including mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum licenses with global authorizations, and enable Amazon to add D2D services to its growing low Earth orbit satellite network. The D2D system will operate alongside Leo’s first and second-generation satellite broadband systems—as well as Globalstar’s HIBLEO and C-3 satellite constellations—extending Leo satellite connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices.
Meeting customers where they are
There are billions of customers around the world living in places beyond the reach of existing communications networks. The core Amazon Leo system will help bridge this divide by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide range of consumer, enterprise, and government customers, with customers connecting to the network using one of several compact, high-performance antennas: Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra.
The Leo D2D System will complement that core broadband service, delivering high-speed connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices. In addition to personal use, the D2D service will enable capabilities like uninterrupted communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging when ground-based networks are unavailable.
In the large parts of the world where mobile phones serve as the primary means of internet connection, the Leo D2D System will give customers greater speed and throughput to expand what they can accomplish today. The system is designed to reach any compatible mobile device—including any of the growing number of smartphones from major manufacturers that have satellite-capable chipsets built in.
Amazon Leo already announced an agreement with Apple to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models—including Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite—and to collaborate with Apple on future satellite services using the expanded network.
How will the D2D network operate?
Leo will distribute its D2D satellites across five orbital shells, each optimized to reach different parts of the planet. The three mid-latitude shells provide dense coverage across heavily populated regions, while the higher-inclination shells extend service toward polar areas.
