Amazon’s Project Kuiper takes flight
Amazon has officially entered the space internet race. On Monday evening, the tech giant successfully launched the first 27 operational satellites for its long-anticipated Project Kuiper broadband network, marking a major milestone in its $10 billion effort to deliver global internet coverage from orbit.
The satellites blasted off atop an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, after a weather delay earlier this month. This launch kicks off the deployment of what Amazon hopes will eventually be a 3,236-satellite constellation, directly rivaling SpaceX’s dominant Starlink network.
Project Kuiper, unveiled in 2019, is Amazon’s boldest bet in space yet — and one it’s positioning as a crucial service for underserved rural and remote areas. The company faces a regulatory deadline from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deploy at least half of its planned satellites by mid-2026, though analysts suggest a deadline extension may be necessary due to the program’s delayed start.
“We’re seeing insatiable demand for internet access,” Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos told Reuters earlier this year. “There’s room for lots of winners. Starlink will be successful, and so will Kuiper.”
With Starlink already boasting over 5 million users in 125 countries and launching new satellites weekly, Amazon is playing catch-up. Still, the company believes its vast consumer product experience, global cloud infrastructure, and existing logistics network will give it a competitive edge as Kuiper services come online.
The newly launched satellites are expected to make first contact with Amazon’s mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, within hours or days. If all systems check out, the company aims to start delivering broadband service to select customers before the end of 2025.
ULA could conduct up to five more Kuiper launches this year, with Amazon targeting initial coverage with just 578 satellites — enough to begin offering service in higher-latitude regions. Coverage will expand toward the equator as more satellites reach orbit.
Amazon has also introduced its Kuiper customer terminals: a vinyl record-sized flat panel antenna and a smaller, Kindle-sized version, each designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet for under $400.
While Starlink enjoys a head start, Bezos remains bullish. “There’s no doubt these low-Earth orbit constellations will have defense applications too,” he noted.
With billions invested and a skyward gaze, the space internet competition just got a lot more interesting.
