Communications & ground segment
Globalstar
Covington, Louisiana satellite operator behind Apple's Emergency SOS service, building the 48-satellite C-3 network and agreed in 2026 to be acquired by Amazon.
Globalstar operates a low Earth orbit mobile satellite network from Covington, Louisiana, and trades on Nasdaq as GSAT. It was founded on 24 March 1991 as a joint venture of Loral Space & Communications and Qualcomm, completed a 48-satellite first-generation constellation by February 2000, then collapsed under the cost: on 15 February 2002 it filed for Chapter 11 protection, listing assets of $570 million against liabilities of $3.3 billion. Thermo Capital Partners bought the assets for $43 million and the company emerged from bankruptcy in April 2004.
Trouble followed. In a filing dated 30 January 2007 Globalstar told the SEC that degradation of its satellites' S-band antenna amplifiers was running faster than previously experienced, and that by some time in 2008 substantially all its in-orbit satellites would cease to support two-way communications. Twenty-four second-generation satellites replaced them, the first six on 19 October 2010 and the last six on 6 February 2013. That fleet, at 1,414 km and 52 degrees inclination, became the network behind Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite, which went live in the United States and Canada on 15 November 2022 with $450 million of Apple funding.
Globalstar announced its third-generation C-3 system in November 2024: 48 operational satellites and up to six in-orbit spares in a Walker 48 pattern across 12 orbital planes, built by MDA Space, with Apple contributing up to $1.1 billion and taking 85% of network capacity. Separately, 17 MDA-built HIBLEO-4 satellites were ordered to extend the life of the existing constellation; the first eight launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 on 15 August 2026, after a rescheduling the company disclosed in its second-quarter results. A ground build-out of more than 90 tracking antennas across 35 stations supports the new system.
On 14 April 2026 Amazon agreed to buy Globalstar at $90 a share — a total Via Satellite put at about $10.8 billion and SiliconANGLE at about $11.6 billion — taking over Apple's 20% equity and voting interest in Globalstar's licensee subsidiary along with the 1.6/2.4 GHz spectrum behind it. The price can fall by $110 million if operational milestones are missed, and closing is expected in 2027. The FCC opened its review on 8 June 2026. Globalstar reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $64.8 million, a net loss of $26.5 million and $409.8 million of cash.
What they build and operate
- Second-generation constellation · Constellation · Operational
Low Earth orbit fleet operating at 1,414 km and 52 degrees inclination; 24 second-generation satellites were deployed between October 2010 and February 2013 and now carry Globalstar's voice, IoT and direct-to-device traffic.[11][2] - C-3 constellation · Constellation · In development
Third-generation system of 48 operational satellites plus up to six in-orbit spares, in a Walker 48 configuration across 12 orbital planes at 1,414 km, announced in November 2024 with MDA Space as prime contractor.[2] - HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites · Satellite · In development
Seventeen MDA Space-built satellites ordered to extend the life of the existing constellation; the first eight launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on 15 August 2026 and nine remain in final integration.[10][4][9] - Emergency SOS via satellite · Service · Operational
Satellite messaging to emergency services on iPhone, live in the United States and Canada from 15 November 2022 and enabled by a $450 million Apple investment from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund.[1] - SPOT · Service · Operational
Consumer and commercial satellite messengers and trackers, which the company lists alongside the SmartOne IoT asset-tracking line.[12] - Realm Enablement Suite · Platform · Operational
Application platform the company markets with its XCOM RAN radio access network and Band n53 terrestrial wireless spectrum products.[12]
Milestones
- 24 March 1991
Founded as a joint venture of Loral Space & Communications and Qualcomm.[11] - February 2000
Completed deployment of the 48-satellite first-generation constellation.[11] - 15 February 2002
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing assets of $570 million against liabilities of $3.3 billion.[11] - April 2004
Emerged from bankruptcy after Thermo Capital Partners bought the assets for $43 million.[11] - 30 January 2007
Told the SEC that S-band antenna amplifier degradation was accelerating and that by some time in 2008 substantially all in-orbit satellites would cease to support two-way communications.[11] - 19 October 2010
Launched the first six second-generation satellites; the final six followed on 6 February 2013.[11] - 15 November 2022
Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite went live in the United States and Canada on Globalstar's network, backed by a $450 million Apple investment.[1] - November 2024
Announced the C-3 third-generation constellation, with Apple funding up to $1.1 billion and entitled to 85% of network capacity.[2] - 14 April 2026
Amazon agreed to acquire Globalstar at $90 a share, with closing expected in 2027 and a $110 million downward adjustment if operational milestones are missed.[4] - 08 June 2026
The FCC opened its review of the Amazon transaction, setting a 6 July 2026 deadline for public comment.[6] - 24 July 2026
Amazon filed with the FCC for 5,105 direct-to-device satellites using the L- and S-band spectrum it would acquire from Globalstar.[7] - 06 August 2026
Reported second-quarter revenue of $64.8 million and a net loss of $26.5 million, and said the first HIBLEO-4 replacement launch had been rescheduled to later in August.[8] - 15 August 2026
The first eight MDA Space-built HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral.[10][9]
Facilities
- Headquarters · Covington, Louisiana, United States
Globalstar's corporate headquarters.[8][11] - Clifton gateway · Clifton, Texas, United States
Gateway earth station where Globalstar installed Clifton-8, the first of five new tracking antennas planned there for the C-3 system.[3] - Bihoro gateway · Bihoro, Japan
Gateway site where Globalstar acquired additional land and began construction to start the Asia-Pacific portion of its C-3 ground expansion.[3] - Alcazar Teleport · Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Teleport Globalstar is expanding with three new tracking antennas under an agreement with Telecom CLM.[3]
Leadership
- Paul E. Jacobs
Chief executive officer (as of 15 August 2026)[9][8][11] - L. Barbee Ponder
General counsel and vice president of regulatory affairs (as of 17 July 2025)[3]
Sources
Via SatelliteApple Says SOS Via Satellite is Now Available via Globalstar Satellitessatellitetoday.com
Via SatelliteGlobalstar Details Next-Generation LEO Constellation in FCC Filingsatellitetoday.com
Via SatelliteGlobalstar Expanding Global Ground Network for C-3 Constellationsatellitetoday.com
Via SatelliteAmazon Enters D2D Market With Globalstar Acquisition and Plans for its Own Systemsatellitetoday.com
SiliconANGLEAmazon will acquire Apple's 20% stake in satellite firm Globalstarsiliconangle.com
Via SatelliteFCC Kicks Off Review of Amazon/Globalstar Dealsatellitetoday.com
Via SatelliteAmazon Leo Files for 5,105 Satellites in Globalstar Spectrum for D2Dsatellitetoday.com
GlobeNewswire press release via The Manila TimesGlobalstar Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Resultsmanilatimes.net
Spaceflight NowSpaceX launches record-breaking back-to-back Falcon 9 rockets for Globalstar, U.S. Space Forcespaceflightnow.com
MDA SpaceMDA Space Satellites for Globalstar Successfully Launchedmda.space
WikipediaGlobalstaren.wikipedia.org
GlobalstarAbout Globalstarglobalstar.com
Coverage of Globalstar
Satellite communications
First eight Globalstar 2-R satellites reach orbit
The replenishment spacecraft have established contact and begun commissioning, opening the orbital phase of a 17-satellite refresh without yet entering operational service.
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