--- title: "Amazon's $11.6 billion acquisition of Global Star: The biggest winner is actually Apple?" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/282760056.md" description: "Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar for $11.6 billion may benefit its competitor Apple. This deal will provide Amazon with a satellite network, accelerating its internet service deployment and supporting Apple's emergency messaging service. Apple has expressed support for the transaction and looks forward to deepening cooperation with Amazon to ensure users continue to access critical satellite features. Although Apple started early in satellite services, it faces challenges from competitors like SpaceX" datetime: "2026-04-15T00:38:02.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/282760056.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282760056.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/282760056.md) --- # Amazon's $11.6 billion acquisition of Global Star: The biggest winner is actually Apple? According to Zhitong Finance APP, Amazon (AMZN.US)'s acquisition of Globalstar (GSAT.US) may ultimately benefit one of its biggest competitors in the hardware device sector—Apple (AAPL.US). The $11.6 billion deal announced on Tuesday will provide Amazon with a satellite network, accelerating its efforts to directly offer internet services to devices. The e-commerce giant has also committed to using its Leo satellite system to support Apple's emergency messaging service, filling the role currently undertaken by Globalstar. If this deal goes through, Apple will gain a well-funded and ambitious partner in the satellite communications field. This will help the iPhone manufacturer expand its services in an increasingly important market. Apple has rarely issued a supportive statement regarding external technology deals, noting its "good track record of collaboration" with Amazon's infrastructure services, including the e-commerce giant's cloud computing services. Apple's marketing director Greg Joswiak stated in a statement: "We look forward to deepening our collaboration based on Amazon Leo. This will ensure that our users can continue to use the critical satellite features they have come to rely on." Apple has been developing its satellite capabilities for years, but it is still playing catch-up compared to other companies in the industry. In 2022, the iPhone manufacturer launched a series of satellite-connected services, which now enable offline messaging and emergency calls in areas without cellular signal coverage. To achieve this, Apple partnered with Globalstar, a low Earth orbit satellite operator with a 35-year history, investing in it and holding about 20% of its shares. Although Apple was an early mover in consumer-facing satellite services, the industry landscape has changed rapidly. Elon Musk's SpaceX has dominated the satellite-based internet service sector, with technology that far exceeds what Globalstar can offer, including faster speeds, broader coverage, and support for voice and data capabilities. SpaceX has also partnered with T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS.US), the second-largest wireless carrier in the U.S., allowing devices like the iPhone to connect to its network more easily without relying on Apple's own features. Other major carriers, such as AT&T Inc. (T.US) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ.US), have also launched their own satellite services, providing more options for iPhone users. This has posed a significant question for Apple internally: What is the point of operating its own satellite network when better options that require almost no maintenance from the company are continuously emerging? Amazon, with its strong resources and ambition to make Leo satellite services a major competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, is changing this situation. Now, Apple no longer needs to continue funding Globalstar but can instead access an expanding satellite constellation, helping its own satellite services compete more effectively Recon Analytics analyst Roger Entner stated that Apple hopes to collaborate with "a well-known and powerful major player that is not SpaceX." He pointed out that in the past, people questioned Amazon's seriousness about the satellite business, "but now they have invested a significant amount of money—this is serious." Of course, the development of the satellite industry is full of uncertainties, and Amazon is particularly known for adjusting its product strategies. Apple may ultimately decide that its self-developed satellite features are not worth maintaining. Additionally, Apple and Amazon compete with each other in multiple markets, including digital assistants, smart home technology, and even TV streaming services. However, for now, both tech giants are actively taking action to capture a larger share of the satellite market. Amazon announced on Tuesday that it plans to launch a device-to-satellite network by 2028. This means that the Seattle-based company will provide global high-speed connectivity services, thereby supporting Apple's products. Apple is also preparing a series of new satellite features. Reports last year indicated that the company is developing satellite-based mapping services, image messaging capabilities, and the ability to allow third-party applications to access its satellite network. One unresolved question is whether Apple will continue to offer its satellite services for free. 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