Amazon is in advanced negotiations for a blockbuster $9 billion acquisition deal of satellite communications firm Globalstar.
The multi-billion-dollar strategic move is aimed at fast-tracking its low-Earth orbit ambitions and directly challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink dominance, especially in fast-growing African connectivity markets.
The talks, which remain fluid, are understood to be focused on structuring the deal around spectrum rights and Globalstar’s existing satellite infrastructure.
However, the Financial Times of India reports that a deal is imminent, although negotiations are “complex and not yet finalised.”
The one major sticking point is Apple’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which adds a layer of corporate tension to the deal.
If completed, the acquisition would significantly accelerate Amazon’s satellite internet rollout under its Project Kuiper, now branded Leo, initiative, which was formally expanded in Africa 11 months ago as part of its push to connect underserved regions with high-speed broadband.
Amazon has already begun launching Kuiper satellites, but with just over 180 in orbit, it remains far behind Starlink’s more than 7 000 operational satellites.
A Globalstar executive, speaking on background, said the company “does not comment on speculation,” while Amazon has also declined to confirm the talks.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, already has an expanding footprint across Africa, with services active in countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, and parts of Southern Africa.
Its low-latency broadband has become critical for remote schools, mining operations, and rural fintech infrastructure.
But despite its rapid rollout, Starlink still faces regulatory delays and licensing hurdles in several African markets, giving rivals a window of opportunity to grab a chunk of the lucrative sector across the continent.
Amazon’s potential acquisition of Globalstar would immediately strengthen its African positioning.
Globalstar already holds spectrum authorisations and partnerships in markets such as South Africa, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Gabon, where it has focused on enterprise connectivity, conservation tracking, and industrial IoT solutions.
This existing footprint could give Amazon a regulatory shortcut into markets where Starlink has spent years negotiating approvals.
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