Amazon has filed with the FCC to launch an Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device constellation of up to 5,105 satellites, in spectrum to be acquired in the Globalstar deal.
The system in L-band and S-band spectrum is intended to operate alongside Amazon Leo’s first and second-generation broadband systems, as well as Globalstar’s constellations — both Globalstar’s current LEO constellation and the next-generation C-3 system.
Amazon is currently going through a deal to acquire Globalstar. When Amazon announced the acquisition in April, it explained its plans to venture into the D2D market. The Amazon Leo constellation currently being launched is a broadband constellation, not a D2D constellation.
The Leo D2D System will “complement that core broadband service,” Amazon said in a release. It will deliver communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging.
“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 said in a release.
While Amazon currently has partnerships with mobile network operators for Amazon Leo, it said it plans to continue working with MNOs and partners and the Leo D2D system will “complement existing mobile networks, filling coverage gaps where terrestrial deployment.”
On the technology side, the satellites will be designed for digital beamforming and beam-hopping and be equipped with optical inter-satellite links to support intelligent traffic routing.
Amazon intends to deploy satellites across five orbital shells ranging from 510 km to 580 km, ranging from mid-latitude coverage, high-latitude coverage, and near-polar coverage.
Amazon submitted the FCC filing on July 24 and issued an announcement on Monday.
