![Satellite broadband competition intensifies as Amazon explores a $9bn acquisition of Globalstar to strengthen its Project Kuiper rollout and challenge Starlink’s dominance in Africa’s connectivity market. [AI-generated Image]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/ae47c5e5a7fe2dddfce95676c9453ad4.png)
Amazon is in advanced negotiations to acquire satellite communications firm Globalstar in a deal valued at about $9bn, in a move that would intensify competition with SpaceX’s Starlink service across emerging broadband markets, particularly in Africa.
- Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire Globalstar in a deal valued at about $9bn, aimed at accelerating its satellite internet ambitions.
- The move is seen as a direct challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently leads the low-Earth orbit broadband market.
- The acquisition could strengthen Amazon’s Project Kuiper rollout across Africa, where demand for connectivity is rising.
- However, regulatory hurdles and competing interests, including Apple’s stake in Globalstar, complicate the negotiations.
The discussions are centred on structuring the transaction around Globalstar’s spectrum rights and existing satellite infrastructure, according to people familiar with the matter. The Financial Times of India reported that while a deal is considered close, negotiations remain complex and are yet to be finalised.
A key complication is Apple’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which adds an additional layer of corporate negotiation to the process. Both Amazon and Globalstar have declined to formally confirm the talks. A Globalstar executive, speaking on background, said the company “does not comment on speculation.”
If completed, the acquisition would accelerate Amazon’s low-Earth orbit ambitions under its satellite internet programme, known as Project Kuiper. The initiative, which has recently been expanded in Africa, is designed to deliver high-speed broadband to underserved and remote regions.
Amazon has begun deploying Kuiper satellites but remains far behind Starlink in scale. Kuiper currently has just over 180 satellites in orbit, compared with more than 7,000 operated by Starlink, which has established a significant global presence.
Starlink, led by Elon Musk and operated by SpaceX, already provides services in several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Mozambique. Its low-latency internet has become increasingly important for rural connectivity, mining operations, and digital financial services in areas with limited terrestrial infrastructure.
Despite its rapid expansion, Starlink continues to face regulatory approvals and licensing delays in multiple African markets, leaving room for competitors to gain ground.
Globalstar already holds spectrum authorisations and enterprise-focused partnerships in countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Gabon. Its operations are largely centred on industrial IoT, conservation tracking, and specialised connectivity services.
Industry analysts say this existing footprint could offer Amazon a faster regulatory pathway into markets where Starlink has spent years negotiating entry, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for satellite broadband across Africa.
