SpaceX IPO: Why Amazon’s Globalstar Deal Raises the Stakes for a $1.75 Trillion Debut
UPDATE April 15, 2026, 10:00 UTC - Amazon’s $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar has intensified competition with SpaceX just as its long-anticipated IPO approaches, highlighting the strategic value of satellite spectrum and direct-to-device connectivity. The deal strengthens Amazon’s push into satellite broadband and mobile services but also underscores how far it still trails SpaceX’s Starlink network in scale and launch capacity. Analysts say the move raises the stakes for SpaceX’s potential $1.5–$2 trillion debut, as investors reassess the size and competitiveness of the space internet market. Amazon’s $11.57 billion buyout of Globalstar is drawing sharper scrutiny to SpaceX’s upcoming market debut, with Elon Musk’s firm still pushing for a $1.75 trillion valuation. The move hands Amazon new direct-to-device, or D2D, satellite capabilities—phones that talk to satellites, no ground towers needed—just as SpaceX edges closer to what may become the largest IPO ever.