April 14 (Reuters) - Amazon.com said on Tuesday it would buy satellite company Globalstar in an $11.57 billion deal, as it looks to take on bigger rival SpaceX's Starlink.
Satellite internet is taking off as cheaper launches, better technology and rising demand for coverage in remote areas make space-based networks more viable.
What began mainly as a way to connect rural households has now expanded into aviation, shipping, defense, emergency messaging and direct-to-phone services.
Below is a snapshot of major satellite internet operators, including where they are based, their planned constellation size and current deployment status.
Company Headquarters Target Status
satellites
Starlink Hawthorne, 15,000 More than
(SpaceX) California, authorized 9,500
U.S. Gen2 operational
satellites; satellites in
long-term orbit
goal of
42,000
Amazon Leo Redmond, 3,236 initial Early
Washington, satellites deployment
U.S. stage;
over200sate
llites in
orbitso far
Eutelsat Paris, 440 planned First-generat
OneWeb France/London in ion
, UK next-generati constellation
on extension of over 600
satellites
Globalstar Covington, 32activelow Twenty-four
Louisiana, earth satellitesfo
U.S. orbitsatelli cused on IoT
tes in the and emergency
near-term; messaging
next-generati
on expansion
could involve
thousands
Telesat Ottawa, Planned Pre-operation
Lightspeed Canada launch of aland
150–200 inmanufactur
satellites ing
starting
2026–2027
AST Midland, 45-60satelli Early
SpaceMobile Texas, U.S. testargeted deployment
in 2026 stage with 6
satellites in
orbit
(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
