Amazon’s long-awaited answer to SpaceX’s Starlink is finally nearing liftoff. According to an exclusive report from Reuters, the company plans to begin offering its Leo satellite internet service later this year, after its latest rocket launch pushed the constellation to 394 satellites in orbit.
The pieces are finally falling into place for Project Kuiper
The milestone came after Amazon’s latest mission deployed 29 additional satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. According to Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper), there’s still work to do before the satellites reach their final operating positions. Still, Amazon has now completed enough launches to begin its initial rollout this year.
Amazon hasn’t revealed which countries or regions will receive service first. However, Reuters reports that coverage is expected to begin near the Earth’s north and south poles before gradually expanding toward the equator as more satellites are added to the network. Eventually, Leo aims to deploy more than 3,200 satellites to provide global broadband coverage.
A serious new rival to Starlink
Unlike traditional satellite internet services that rely on a handful of satellites positioned far above Earth, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations place thousands of satellites much closer to the planet. That significantly reduces latency while improving speeds, making the technology far more practical for everything from streaming and video calls to online gaming and remote work.
That’s exactly the market Amazon wants to tap into. Like Starlink, the company plans to sell internet service to households using dedicated user terminals, while also targeting businesses, governments, and industries such as airlines. With Starlink already operating roughly 10,000 satellites, Amazon still has plenty of catching up to do. But having another major player enter the LEO internet race could ultimately mean more competition, better coverage, and potentially lower prices for customers in the years ahead.