Amazon Could Buy Viasat As AST SpaceMobile Tries Rival Bid, Satellite Consultant Says: Musk-Bezos ‘Cage Fight’ Looms

Insight summary

• •Amazon may acquire Viasat to enhance its satellite capabilities and challenge SpaceX in government and aviation markets.
• •AST SpaceMobile is attempting a rival bid but faces significant telecom funding challenges and opposition from Viasat management.
• •Amazon's acquisition of Viasat could combine its GEO Ka-band satellites with Amazon's low Earth orbit network for better spectrum use.
• •A takeover of Viasat by Amazon might end the Equatys satellite project but still require coordination with Space42 for L-band spectrum in EMEA.
• •Amazon recently received FCC approval for an $11.5 billion Globalstar deal to advance direct-to-device satellite connectivity, expected to close in 2027.
• •The Globalstar deal gives Amazon 25 MHz of internationally harmonized mobile-satellite spectrum to connect devices directly to satellites.
• •The potential competition between Amazon and SpaceX is framed as a major satellite industry battle.