Amazon is working on acquiring the satellite telecommunications firm Globalstar, which powers Apple’s Satellite SOS features. However, Apple’s 20 per cent stake in Globalstar is making this acquisition a bit complicated, according to the Financial Times.
According to the report, Amazon is looking to buy Globalstar at roughly US$9 billion (C$12.52 billion) in an effort to compete with Space X’s Starlink. Apple’s stake in Globalstar means it’s also participating in negotiations with Amazon.
Currently, Apple has access to 85 per cent of Globalstar’s network capacity to power iPhone features like Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite and more; however, it’s unclear how Amazon’s acquisition of the company would affect Apple’s arrangement.
Amazon has more than 180 satellites in orbit through its Leo satellite program, but that’s nowhere near SpaceX’s 10,000 active satellites.
The satellite space wars have definitely begun, with companies also trying to get into the space race to offer satellite-to-mobile connectivity. Ontario was in talks with Starlink to provide internet to parts of the province; however, after Trump became president, Premier Doug Ford decided to stop working with Musk’s SpaceX. Rogers, on the other hand, uses Starlink to provide satellite-to-mobile connectivity. Both Bell and Telus are working with AST SpaceMobile to proivde satellite connectivity as well.
Source: Financial Times, via: MacRumors
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