The deal hands Amazon globally licensed L-band and S-band spectrum, the essential ingredient for connecting standard smartphones directly to satellites. Apple gets a larger, financially stable partner, but the iPhone maker’s satellite roadmap now runs through an Amazon company. NBN chose Amazon Leo over Starlink after a competitive procurement, citing regulatory, technical, sovereignty and commercial factors. Amazon’s FCC licence required 1,618 satellites in orbit by July 30, 2026, tomorrow, and it is clearly missing that deadline. The Dependency Trap For Telstra And OptusAustralian carriers, including Optus and Telstra, are currently cuddling up to Starlink.