Amazon has revealed plans to deliver space-based connectivity to mobile phones through a mega constellation of more than 5,000 satellites.
An application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US tech giant sought permission to deploy satellites to low Earth orbit to provide a direct-to-device (D2D) service by 2028.
The cell service will provide direct competition to SpaceX’s Starlink network, which launched satellite-to-mobile connections last year under T-Mobile’s T-Satellite branding.
The service can be used anywhere, though its limited bandwidth means that is is primarily aimed at customers living or working in remote areas that are out of reach of terrestrial towers.
Amazon said the D2D service will also serve uninterrupted connectivity to disaster response teams and logistics networks.
“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,” Amazon said.
“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.”
Partnerships with several telecom operators, including Vodafone and Herotel, will see Amazon Leo’s D2D system built in to existing mobile networks to fill coverage gaps.
The company as also reached an agreement with Apple to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models for features like Emergency SOS and Find My device.
Amazon Leo has already launched nearly 400 satellites for its broadband satellite system, with plans to launch a limited commercial internet service later this year.
This is still a fraction of the number launched by SpaceX for its Starlink network, which currently comprises more than 10,000 satellites, however Amazon Leo claims that it will offer the world’s fastest space internet service due to its next-generation antennas.
Amazon’s rivalry with SpaceX suffered a setback earlier this year after its New Glenn rocket exploded during testing at the company’s launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The incident means the rocket designed to carry Amazon Leo’s satellites to orbit is grounded until later this year.
