Amazon.com Inc.

07/27/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/27/2026 07:10

How Amazon Leo plans to connect mobile devices from space

Key takeaways

  • Amazon Leo has proposed a new constellation of up to 5,105 satellites to connect compatible mobile devices directly from space.
  • Leo will partner with mobile network operators to extend mobile connectivity services globally, with satellite deployment beginning in 2028.
  • The Leo network will use advanced signal-processing technologies to make efficient use of spectrum and minimize interference.
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.

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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.

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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.
Here's how the five orbital shells break down:
Mid-latitude coverage:
• Shell 1: 580 km altitude, 55.7° inclination
• Shell 2: 560 km altitude, 58.2° inclination
• Shell 3: 510 km altitude, 56.3° inclination
High-latitude coverage:
• Shell 4: 570 km altitude, 73° inclination
Near-polar coverage:
• Shell 5: 540 km altitude, 84° inclination
The satellites will communicate with mobile devices using dedicated radio frequencies (L-band and S-band spectrum links). Connections between the satellites and Amazon's ground stations will use separate high-capacity radio links (Ka-band and V-band spectrum) that carry aggregated traffic between the satellite network and the internet, much like a backhaul connection for a cell tower.

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Unlike conventional satellites that simply relay signals to the ground (known in the industry as "bent pipe" satellites), Leo's D2D satellites will process the signals in orbit before relaying them to improve performance. Also, Leo's D2D satellites will be equipped with optical inter-satellite links-laser connections between the satellites in orbit-to support intelligent traffic routing across the constellation.
The satellites will use digital beamforming and beam-hopping to direct concentrated signals precisely where and when they are needed. This maximizes coverage while minimizing wasted power and interference. Combined with the advanced signal-processing techniques described below, this approach will deliver higher spectrum efficiency than legacy systems:
  • Tight adjacent-channel performance: The satellites will contain their signal energy within assigned frequency channels with minimal leakage into neighboring bands, protecting other operators while increasing usable capacity.
  • Dual-polarization reception: The satellites will receive signals in two orientations simultaneously, increasing the information captured from the same frequency band and improving signal quality from low-power mobile devices.
  • Adaptive modulation and coding: The system will continuously adjust how data is encoded based on real-time signal conditions, delivering higher data rates when conditions are favorable and maintaining reliable connections when they are not.

Built for partnership

Amazon Leo has already announced partnerships with telecom operators like Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, and Australia's National Broadband Network, and it plans to continue working with mobile network operators and other partners to deliver on its long-term vision for space-based connectivity. The Leo D2D System will complement existing mobile networks, filling coverage gaps where terrestrial deployment is impractical, cost-prohibitive, or vulnerable to disruption.
Amazon Leo has also engineered its D2D System to protect other spectrum users, and it is committed to good-faith coordination with other satellite operators. Leo will comply with domestic and international frequency allocation frameworks, and has a track record of active engagement with spectrum stakeholders to avoid interference.
Amazon Leo is currently deploying its first-generation broadband satellite system and already has more than 390 satellites in orbit, providing enough coverage to begin rolling out fixed service across initial latitude bands later this year. To sign up for updates about service availability, visit Amazon Leo website.
Next, learn more about how Amazon is building its satellite network to deliver fast, affordable internet to communities around the world.

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