PARIS — The French government has granted regulatory clearance for satellite telecommunications operator Globalstar to launch and operate its constellation of 54 next-generation direct-to-device satellites, SpaceNews reported on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
The regulatory decision authorizes Globalstar’s C-3 network, filed with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the network identifier AST-NG-C-3, to access and operate across global Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum allocations for a 20-year term.
Transatlantic Spectrum Governance and Amazon Acquisition
Globalstar’s satellite communications network operates under harmonized spectrum filings authorized by both French and United States regulatory agencies. The French licensing milestone arrives shortly after the FCC approved Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar in an $11.5 billion transaction designed to integrate Globalstar’s licensed Big LEO spectrum directly into the Amazon Leo broadband constellation.
The decision by France’s Ministry for Digital and Ministry for Space complements earlier U.S. regulatory momentum, following the FCC authorization for its third-generation C-3 satellite constellation to deliver direct cellular services to consumer smartphones.
C-3 Spacecraft Bus Specifications and Constellation Orbital Parameters
Engineered specifically to support direct-to-device cellular connectivity and high-reliability emergency messaging, the C-3 space architecture matches the orbital geometry of Globalstar’s legacy constellation. Prime contractor MDA Space is manufacturing the 54 spacecraft, which comprise 48 active operational low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and six dedicated on-orbit spares.
Each satellite will operate at an orbital altitude of 1,414 kilometers, incorporating active beamforming S-band payloads to communicate directly with standard hand-held mobile devices. Flight operations will be commanded through Globalstar’s dedicated Satellite Operations Control Center in Toulouse, France, alongside its primary control facility in Covington, Louisiana.
Launch Manifest and 2027 In-Orbit Deployment
Globalstar targets the inaugural orbital launches of the C-3 constellation starting next year in 2027. Under the French space decree, the operator is authorized to conduct space flight operations across the full 13-year design lifetime of the satellites, providing service continuity for consumer mobile networks and sovereign applications.
