The iPhone’s satellite feature provider Globalstar has secured regulatory approval to launch its proposed C-3 constellation to improve the satellite connectivity.
On Monday, Globalstar announced it had received the approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which quietly issued the regulatory green light back on October 8th.
“This approval will ensure our ability to deliver next-generation satellite services that combine increased capacity, improved performance, and greater flexibility to users for years to come,” Globalstar’s CEO Paul Jacobs said.
Globalstar originally announced the C-3 system after receiving a $1 billion investment from Apple. The company has been using Globalstar’s existing constellation to power the emergency SOS satellite feature starting on the iPhone 14 back in late 2022, giving customers a way to text and reach first responders in dead zones, away from cellular towers.
The C-3 constellation promises to improve the signal quality, including indoors and inside cars, by using 48 low-Earth orbiting satellites at 1,414 kilometers in the sky. The constellation should also be easier for iPhone owners to connect with when the current satellite feature requires you to point your handset at a certain direction toward the sky. The company currently has 25 satellites in operational orbit, with another eight moving into position, following a recent launch, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell.
(PCMag/Michael Kan)
Earlier this year though, Apple decided to sell its Globalstar stake. That’s because Amazon is acquiring the company to become a major provider of satellite-to-phone connectivity. Still, both Apple and Amazon remain committed to serving current and future iPhone and Apple Watch models with satellite features. So iPhone owners can still expect to see significant upgrades. Consumers on Android phones are bound to get access as well since Amazon plans on expanding Globalstar’s business by partnering with mobile network operators, rather than making the satellite features an Apple exclusive.
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Globalstar previously told the FCC it plans on launching the “the first twelve C-3 System satellites” from between early to mid-2027. The FCC’s authorization adds: “the C-3 System will also include up to six in-orbit spares at an orbital altitude of approximately 680 km, bringing the total number of C-3 System satellites to 54.”
That said, the C-3 system looks modest compared to Amazon’s larger goal of launching 5,105 even newer low-Earth orbiting satellites to take the satellite-to-phone connectivity to the next level. Amazon-Globalstar is poised to become a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile and AST SpaceMobile, which have all been racing to develop satellite communication for cellular dead zones. SpaceX even recently announced its plans to become the fourth major carrier in the US through Starlink Mobile, putting it in direct competition with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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