Satellite Networks

Amazon Leo applies to launch D2D system

Amazon Leo applies to launch D2D system

In case anyone was wondering what Amazon Leo’s plans were after the deal with Globalstar earlier this year, a recent filing with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may offer some clues.

The application with the FCC is to launch and operate the Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device (D2D) System, a constellation of up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites designed to deliver D2D connectivity to customers globally, with deployment beginning in 2028.

The filing follows the merger agreement with Globalstar in April, which will see Amazon acquire Globalstar’s existing satellite operations, infrastructure and assets and enable Amazon to add D2D services to its growing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network.

The D2D system will operate alongside Leo’s first and second-generation satellite broadband systems – as well as Globalstar’s HIBLEO and C-3 satellite constellations – extending Leo satellite connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices.

The core Amazon Leo system will provide high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide range of consumer, enterprise and government customers, with customers connecting to the network using one of several compact, high-performance antennas: Leo Nano, Leo Pro and Leo Ultra.

The Leo D2D System will complement that core broadband service, delivering high-speed connectivity directly to compatible mobile devices. The D2D service will also enable capabilities like uninterrupted communications for disaster response, global fleet management, remote operations across worksites and supply chains, IoT connectivity for remote sensors, and emergency messaging when ground-based networks are unavailable.

Amazon Leo says it has already announced an agreement with Apple to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models.

Amazon Leo will distribute its D2D satellites across five orbital shells, each optimised to reach different parts of the planet. The satellites will communicate with mobile devices using dedicated radio frequencies (L-band and S-band spectrum links). Connections between the satellites and Amazon's ground stations will use separate high-capacity radio links (Ka-band and V-band spectrum) that carry aggregated traffic between the satellite network and the internet, much like a backhaul connection for a cell tower.

Amazon Leo says that unlike conventional satellites that simply relay signals to the ground, its D2D satellites will process the signals in orbit before relaying them to improve performance. Also, Leo’s D2D satellites will be equipped with optical inter-satellite links – laser connections between the satellites in orbit – to support intelligent traffic routing across the constellation.

The satellites will use digital beamforming and beam-hopping to direct concentrated signals precisely where and when they are needed. This maximises coverage while minimising wasted power and interference. Combined with advanced signal-processing techniques, this approach, the company says, will deliver higher spectrum efficiency than legacy systems.

Amazon Leo has already announced partnerships with a number of telecom operators including South Africa’s Herotel. The Leo D2D System will complement existing mobile networks, filling coverage gaps where terrestrial deployment is impractical, cost-prohibitive, or vulnerable to disruption.

Amazon Leo says it is currently deploying its first-generation broadband satellite system and already has more than 390 satellites in orbit.



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