Amazon has filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting approval for a system that would allow satellite antennas from third-party manufacturers to connect to its Amazon Leo satellite network.
The company is seeking authority for the deployment of an Amazon Leo Modem Module (ALMM), a compact unit that could be integrated into antenna hardware built by external vendors to allow maritime customers to access the satellite network using existing or specialist antennas, which could potentially reduce the need for extensive hardware replacements on vessels.
In the filing, Amazon claimed that the module would enable customers to integrate connectivity into existing systems without compromising performance. The move would also help to differentiate the service from Elon Musk’s rival Starlink offering, which is only available via antennas from the satellite operator.
“Granting a blanket licence for the ALMM will allow government and third-party antenna providers to access the Amazon Leo satellite system,” Amazon stated in the document.
The FCC application comes as Amazon completed its most recent satellite launch on 12 February 2026, with an Arianespace Ariane 64 rocket launching 32 satellites from the Guiana Space Centre to bring the total Amazon Leo constellation past the 200-satellite mark.
The company says it has begun using heavy-lift vehicles for launches to accelerate the deployment of its planned 3,232-satellite network.
Amazon’s launch schedule includes more than 20 missions planned for 2026, with the company noting that it remains on track to meet its final deployment targets by 2029.
