Amazon has launched 27 Kuiper satellites into space, marking the start of the company’s ambitious plan to build a satellite network capable of providing internet access globally.
After launching two successful prototype satellites in 2023 and de-orbiting them in 2024, Amazon has dared to dream about space again, this time with 27 satellites and a plan to launch over 3,000 more.
Amazon launches satellites into space
Amazon ticked off a critical item on the checklist to roll out its Kuiper broadband internet constellation project in Florida on Monday, April 28. The tech giant launched the first 27 satellites of its network into space.
The launch marks the beginning of a $10 billion initiative aimed at providing global internet coverage and directly challenging SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently dominates the market.
The launch occurred at 7 p.m. EDT. An Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA) lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, deploying the first batch of operational Kuiper satellites into low-Earth orbit. The launch was originally scheduled for April 9, 2025, but it was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In a couple of days, Amazon is expected to publicly confirm connectivity with all of the satellites from its mission operations center in Redmond, Washington. The company plans to begin delivering service to customers later this year if everything goes as planned.
Project Kuiper plans to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites, and due to a mandate from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the company aims to have at least half of the satellites, that’s 1618 of them, in orbit halfway through 2026. Considering the current pace of deployments, analysts suggest that Amazon may need to seek an extension to meet the requirement.
The Kuiper system is designed to cooperate with Amazon’s existing cloud computing technology and use its 12 satellite ground station facilities announced in 2018. The satellites will interconnect through optical, infrared laser links capable of maintaining 100 Gbps over distances of up to 2,600 km.
Amazon also announced that customer terminals priced under $400 will be available to the public. The terminals communicate with the satellites and deliver speeds up to 400 Mbps. A second model of the terminal is an ultra-compact version, which delivers speeds of up to 100 Mbps, and a high-bandwidth version capable of 1 Gbps.
The company expects to make tens of millions from these devices.
Competing with SpaceX’s Starlink
SpaceX’s Starlink currently dominates the space network industry, with over 8,000 satellites launched since 2019 and more than 5 million users across 125 countries.
SpaceX’s rapid deployment strategy, which is supported by its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, has allowed the company to launch its satellites frequently. These launches happen sometimes, as often as once per week.
Despite his late entry into the industry, Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, is not worried about Kuiper’s chances of success. He has cited the overwhelming demand for internet services as a reason for his confidence, stating, “There’s room for lots of winners there. I predict Starlink will continue to be successful, and I predict Kuiper will be successful as well.”
To accelerate Kuiper’s satellite deployments, Amazon has secured 83 rocket launches through partnerships with ULA, Arianespace, and Blue Origin. The company has also booked three Falcon 9 launches with SpaceX, showing that while both companies are competitors, they don’t intend to be hostile.
Project Kuiper does not focus only on consumer markets. It also intends to serve the commercial and defense sectors. Amazon has secured a partnership with Vrio and plans to launch satellite internet services in seven South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, solving the connectivity issues for approximately 200 million people in the region.
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