Amazon, Starlink Pour $28.6 Billion Into D2D Internet as Brazil Emerges a Priority Market
Updated
Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 23
Amazon, Starlink Pour $28.6 Billion Into D2D Internet as Brazil Emerges a Priority Market
2 articles · Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 23
$28.6 billion in recent deals is accelerating direct-to-device satellite internet, with Brazil emerging as a key expansion market for services that connect phones without routers or ground antennas.
Amazon bought Globalstar for $11.6 billion and Starlink acquired Echostar for $17 billion, giving both companies satellite assets and spectrum to push D2D services, including in Brazil.
Brazil already has two leading contenders: AST SpaceMobile has won Anatel approval and opened a São Paulo office, while Starlink filed in February to enter the country's D2D segment.
45 AST satellites are planned by end-2026 and 90 by end-2027, a scale-up aimed at moving D2D from patchy trials in more than a dozen countries to continuous commercial coverage.
Brazilian regulators and the communications ministry see D2D as a way to reach remote communities, support emergency and public-sector networks, and reduce reliance on a single connectivity provider.
After a major launch failure, can AST Space Mobile still deliver on its promise to connect millions in remote Brazil?
As US tech giants dominate the skies, how can Brazil safeguard its digital sovereignty and citizen data?
Will new satellite internet be a digital bridge for remote communities or just a high-tech luxury service?
Direct-to-Device Satellite Internet in Brazil: Amazon’s Globalstar Deal, Starlink’s Lead, and the Battle for 700,000 New Connections
Overview
In April 2026, Amazon announced its plan to acquire Globalstar, a move that quickly captured the attention of the satellite communications industry. The deal, expected to close in 2027, depends on regulatory approvals and Globalstar meeting certain deployment milestones. Approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is crucial, and the FCC chair has shown an open-minded attitude, suggesting a smoother regulatory process, though formal approval is still pending. This strategic acquisition highlights Amazon’s ambition to strengthen its position in the direct-to-device satellite market and intensifies competition with established players like Starlink.