Globalstar has parallel replacement satellite builds underway with alternative contractors to update its second-generation hardware.
A major earthquake in April 2009 damaged Thales Alenia Space’s electronic component fabrication facility in L’Aquila, Italy, during assembly of early payload hardware for Globalstar’s program.
The ITU’s Radio Regulations Board found that Globalstar had not completed sufficient risk assessments and supply-chain due diligence for its contracted manufacturing sites.
Globalstar is pursuing an $11.6 billion acquisition and corporate integration with Amazon.com Inc.
On July 10, 2026, the International Telecommunication Union’s Radio Regulations Board denied Globalstar Inc.’s request for a regulatory extension.
The ITU’s Radio Regulations Board determined that the 2009 manufacturing disruption did not justify a modern milestone extension for Globalstar.
Under the pending merger, Amazon intends to combine Globalstar’s globally harmonized L-band and S-band spectrum assets with Project Kuiper’s broadband infrastructure.
Amazon intends to use the combined Globalstar and Project Kuiper system to support a unified network that can serve cellular devices directly from low Earth orbit.
The ITU ruling limits Globalstar’s ability to defer regulatory deadlines and could constrain the combined system’s peak capacity before its targeted 2028 deployment window.
Globalstar sought an administrative modification to change its launch and deployment obligations for its French-licensed non-geostationary satellite orbit fleet under the HIBLEO-X and HIBLEO-4 designations.
Amazon intends to combine Globalstar’s globally harmonized L-band and S-band spectrum assets with Project Kuiper broadband infrastructure to support a unified direct-to-device network from low Earth orbit.
Globalstar Inc. cited a major earthquake in April 2009 that damaged Thales Alenia Space’s electronic component fabrication facility in L’Aquila, Italy, as the basis for its extension request.
Globalstar’s HIBLEO architecture is an integrated Mobile Satellite Services network designed to route low-latency voice, tracking data, and emergency messaging services.
Globalstar has replacement satellite builds underway with alternative contractors to update its second-generation hardware.
Globalstar and Amazon are targeting a 2028 deployment window for the combined system.
Globalstar Inc. is navigating an $11.6 billion acquisition and corporate integration with Amazon.com Inc.
The ITU ruling restricts Globalstar’s ability to defer regulatory deadlines.
On Friday, July 10, 2026, the International Telecommunication Union’s Radio Regulations Board denied Globalstar Inc.’s request for a regulatory extension.
The International Telecommunication Union’s Radio Regulations Board found that Globalstar had not completed sufficient risk assessments and supply-chain due diligence for its contracted manufacturing sites.
Globalstar Inc. sought an administrative modification to change its launch and deployment obligations for its French-licensed non-geostationary satellite orbit fleet under the HIBLEO-X and HIBLEO-4 designations.