FCC grants Globalstar nationwide authority to operate its third‑generation C‑3 satellite system
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission issued an order authorizing Globalstar, Inc. to operate its C‑3 mobile‑satellite‑service constellation across the United States. The approved system includes 48 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites and six on‑orbit spares, supported by roughly 90 ground‑station antennas in multiple states and territories. Globalstar plans to launch the first 12 satellites in early to mid‑2027 and must have at least half of the operational fleet in orbit by 11 Oct 2032.
Why it matters
The approval clears the regulatory path for Globalstar to provide direct‑to‑device connectivity to smartphones, enabling the company to meet demand for satellite‑enabled services and to honor its capacity agreements with Apple. The launch schedule and compliance milestones create near‑term revenue and cash‑flow expectations for investors.
Key facts
- 1The FCC granted Globalstar nationwide authority to operate its C‑3 system. sina.com.hk
- 2The C‑3 constellation will comprise 48 operational LEO satellites and six on‑orbit spares, for a total of 54 spacecraft. satnews.com
- 3Approximately 90 ground‑station antennas will be used, located across Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and about 20 countries. satnews.com
- 4Globalstar plans to launch the first 12 C‑3 satellites in early to mid‑2027. satnews.com
- 5The FCC order requires Globalstar to launch and operate at least 50 % of the 48 authorized operational satellites by 11 Oct 2032. satnews.com
- 6Apple finances infrastructure pre‑payments and commands 85 % of the network’s bandwidth. satnews.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 6 of 6 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.