Factbox-Global satellite internet companies at a glance

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;

over 200 sate

llites in

orbit so far 

Eutelsat Paris, 440 planned First-generat

OneWeb France/London in ion

, UK next-generati constellation

on extension  of over 600

satellites

Globalstar  Covington, 32 active low Twenty-four

Louisiana, earth satellites fo

U.S.  orbit satelli 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 al and

150–200 in manufactur

satellites ing 

starting

2026–2027 

AST Midland, 45-60 satelli Early

SpaceMobile  Texas, U.S.  tes targeted deployment

in 2026  stage with 6

satellites in

orbit 

(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)