Amazon Leo Files for Up to 5,105 D2D Satellites for Voice, Data, and Messaging

Amazon’s satellite unit, Amazon Leo, has filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval to deploy up to 5,105 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites designed to deliver direct-to-device (D2D) services for mobile phones, IoT fleet management, and remote sensors. The filing marks a major push by the e-commerce giant to capture a share of the mobile connectivity and IoT markets, building on its existing broadband constellation.

The proposed D2D System will operate alongside Amazon Leo’s Gen 1 and Gen 2 broadband networks, which already serve consumer, enterprise, and government customers through a range of antennas — Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra. The company plans to begin launching the D2D satellites in 2028. “Our plan is to start deploying in 2028, and we’re excited to work with partners to make it happen,” Chris Weber, vice president of business and product for Amazon Leo, said on X.

The constellation will consist of five orbital shells optimized for different geographic regions. Three mid-latitude shells — at altitudes of 590 km (55.7° inclination), 560 km (58.2°), and 510 km (56.3°) — are designed to provide dense coverage for heavily populated areas. Two additional shells serve more remote and specialist users: a 570 km orbit at 73° inclination for high-latitude regions, and a 540 km orbit at 84° inclination for near-polar areas.

Each satellite will operate over dedicated L-band and S-band spectrum links for direct-to-device communication, while conventional ground station links will be handled via Ka- and V-band for backhaul-like services. The spacecraft will also feature onboard processing to reduce downlink burden, digital beamforming, and optical intersatellite links (ISLs) to improve network efficiency.

Amazon Leo has already announced partnerships with several major telecom operators, including Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, and Australia’s National Broadband Network. The company expects to deepen collaboration with mobile network operators and other partners as the D2D system develops. Currently, Amazon Leo has 390 satellites in orbit, with its overall constellation still being deployed. In early July, the FCC granted a limited waiver extending Amazon Leo’s deadline to launch half of its full constellation by mid-2026, subject to a set of conditions.

The D2D initiative follows Amazon Leo’s $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar in April 2026, at $90 per share, which brought valuable radio frequency spectrum into its portfolio. The deal is expected to close in 2027. The acquisition came after Apple purchased a 20% stake in Globalstar for $400 million in November 2024 and paid $1.1 billion to expand iPhone satellite services, effectively occupying 85% of Globalstar’s network capacity — services that Amazon Leo has committed to maintaining. In a separate development, Elon Musk recently dismissed rumors that SpaceX was developing its own phone to verticalize its D2D offering through Starlink, following SpaceX’s acquisition of EchoStar’s spectrum assets and reports of a “handset-like” AI device prototype.

The filing underscores the intensifying competition in the satellite-to-phone market, where Amazon, SpaceX, and other players are racing to build the infrastructure for ubiquitous mobile connectivity. By integrating D2D capabilities with its existing broadband constellation, Amazon Leo aims to offer seamless coverage for consumers and industries in remote and underserved areas, potentially reshaping the economics of mobile and IoT services.