Globalstar, Inc. Common Stock

Rocket Lab said eight satellite platforms it built for MDA Space have entered orbit, marking the first deployment under a $143 million contract covering 17 spacecraft. The satellites launched Aug. 15 at 9:12 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and Rocket Lab has established contact with all eight spacecraft, which are generating power and operating as expected. MDA Space is the prime contractor overseeing the replenishment of Globalstar’s existing satellite constellation, which provides direct-to-device communications and internet-of-things connectivity. The spacecraft are customized versions of Rocket Lab’s Lightning satellite platform, each weighing about 500 kilograms and built and tested at the company’s headquarters in Long Beach, California. Rocket Lab did not specify when the remaining nine spacecraft under the contract will be launched.

Globalstar announced the successful launch and deployment of all 8 HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellites have reached their intended orbital planes and are under the company's command and control, with initial health assessments indicating they are performing as expected. CEO Dr. Paul E. Jacobs said the milestone provides additional resiliency across the network. The satellites will now undergo commissioning activities, including system testing and calibration, before entering commercial service.

MDA Space Ltd. confirmed the successful deployment of the initial eight replenishment satellites for Globalstar Inc.'s low Earth orbit constellation. The satellites, developed and fully integrated and tested in Montréal, were launched on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at 9:12 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and will now undergo in-orbit tests as part of the commissioning phase. This marks the first time MDA Space has delivered LEO satellites as a prime contractor for commercial communications constellations. The remaining nine satellites on order are in the final stages of integration at MDA Space, and once fully operational they will enable Globalstar to extend the life of its existing constellation supporting direct-to-device satellite-enabled services and IoT applications.

Thaicom is set to rebrand as Gulf Space Technology to expand its business from a satellite operator to a full-spectrum space technology company. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Piyaawat Jariyasetthaphong revealed that the company will integrate geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites, while accelerating the expansion of Earth observation data services and developing a data platform to support the data center and AI businesses of Gulf Group. Most recently, it secured a contract from PTT to use satellite data for monitoring gas pipeline routes, and is in the process of seeking permission to build a ground station to provide broadband internet via LEO satellites in partnership with Amazon, as well as collaborating with Globalstar to offer direct-to-device services. On the satellite plan, Thaicom 4 will extend its lifespan until the end of 2026, Thaicom 9 is expected to begin service in the third quarter of 2027, and Thaicom 10 has been postponed to the first half of 2029, with 50% of its capacity already pre-sold.

Thaicom Public Company Limited, or THCOM, reported second-quarter 2026 results with a net loss attributable to the parent company narrowing to 87 million baht, down from a loss of 207 million baht in the second quarter of 2025, driven by lower net foreign exchange losses. In the second quarter of 2025, the company booked a net foreign exchange loss of 209 million baht from the appreciation of the baht against the US dollar. Total revenue from sales and services in the second quarter of 2026 came in at 497 million baht, up 9.7 percent from the first quarter of 2026, mainly due to higher satellite and related service revenue, particularly from the ground station expansion project for Globalstar and the antenna system and ground operations system project for GISTDA. However, compared with the second quarter of 2025, revenue fell 7.1 percent on a slowdown in the broadcast business and lower overseas revenue. In the overseas telephone service business, the company recognised a share of loss from joint venture investments of 4 million baht in the second quarter of 2026, down from 23 million baht in the first quarter of 2026 and 9 million baht in the second quarter of 2025, thanks to improved performance at Lao Telecommunications Public Company.

Globalstar announced second quarter 2026 revenue of $64.8 million, including $60.0 million in service revenue and $4.8 million from subscriber equipment sales, while continuing to advance its merger with Amazon. The waiting period under the HSR Act expired in July 2026, and the companies are now working with remaining regulators including the FCC, with the transaction expected to close in 2027. The company also reported a net loss of $26.5 million for the quarter, compared to net income of $19.2 million a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA of $26.0 million, down from $35.8 million. Globalstar achieved record high Commercial IoT subscriber activations and is preparing to launch its first set of replacement satellites later this month as part of its next-generation constellation initiatives.

Amazon has asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites for its Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device system, with deployment set for 2028. The move intensifies competition with Elon Musk's Starlink and follows Amazon's merger agreement with Globalstar in April, which provides spectrum for direct-to-device capabilities. The service would use Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra ground antennas to connect via more than 390 satellites in orbit.

Seeking Alpha analysts Daniel Jones and Petri Dish Reports shared their views on the best space stock plays. Daniel Jones favors Iridium Communications among satellite prospects, but picks Amazon as his top space-oriented company, citing its acquisition of Globalstar at $90 per share and plans for a next-generation direct-to-device satellite system starting in 2028 that could tap a $1.61 trillion broadband and mobile services opportunity. Petri Dish Reports recommends diversifying across space niches, highlighting Earth observation and space surveillance with Planet Labs and BlackSky, launch and satellite services with Rocket Lab, defense-adjacent hypersonics and propulsion with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, and space infrastructure with Intuitive Machines.

Globalstar is advancing its low Earth orbit satellite network with the HIBLEO-4 replenishment mission, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aims to strengthen the resilience and reliability of Globalstar's current-generation constellation, ensuring continued satellite communications services worldwide. The launch, originally scheduled for May 17, 2026, was postponed to allow additional satellite preparation time, but the company stated the objective remains unchanged. Alongside HIBLEO-4, Globalstar expects to launch replacement satellites for its second-generation constellation in 2026 and is developing a third-generation C-3 network of more than 50 satellites to expand capacity for direct-to-device, IoT, enterprise, government, and defense applications.

AST SpaceMobile is advancing its space-based cellular broadband network but faces intensifying competition from SpaceX and Amazon. The company is preparing to launch BlueBird satellites 8, 9 and 10 and targets approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit during 2026, backed by nearly 60 global mobile network operator partners covering over 3 billion subscribers and more than $1.2 billion in contracted revenue commitments. However, SpaceX's Starlink already offers messaging solutions and is developing voice communication with partners including T-Mobile, Rogers and Virgin Media O2, while Amazon is set to acquire Globalstar and plans to launch its own next-generation direct-to-device system beginning in 2028 supporting voice, messaging and mobile data services for iPhone and Apple Watch devices. AST SpaceMobile relies on third-party launch providers, and a recent setback saw the Block 2 BlueBird 7 satellite de-orbited after being placed into a lower-than-planned orbit in April 2026. Shares of AST SpaceMobile have risen 105.1% over the past year, but the stock carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) with declining earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027.