News • Satellite

Apple invests $1.5bn in Globalstar’s satellite tech

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22 hours ago
Apple will invest up to $1.1bn to fund a new Globalstar constellation and invest $400m in a Globalstar LLC that will own the new constellation, for a 20% equity stake.
Apple will invest up to $1.5bn in Globalstar to fund a new constellation for expanded satellite services.

Apple will invest up to $1.1bn to fund a new Globalstar constellation and invest $400m in a Globalstar LLC that will own the new constellation, for a 20% equity stake, according to a new Globalstar filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This constellation is separate from the constellation upgrade currently in progress with MDA Space.

This new investment will support the development and launch of a new mobile satellite services (MSS) constellation as well as the expansion of ground infrastructure, which will be owned and operated by Globalstar. The satellite operator has agreed to allocate 85% of its network capacity for Apple services.

Apple was the first phone manufacturer to bring satellite connectivity to standard phones. Globalstar has been providing satellite capacity for the messaging since the service began in November 2022 on the iPhone 14. Earlier this year, Apple expanded the satellite messaging capabilities from just emergency messaging to standard messaging when cellular and Wi-Fi is not available.

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