Amazon has officially entered the satellite internet race with the successful launch of the first 27 satellites for its Project Kuiper constellation. The satellites were deployed into low-Earth orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, marking a major milestone in Amazon’s $10 billion effort to build a global broadband network.
Project Kuiper aims to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to underserved and remote regions around the world. The company is working against a mid-2026 deadline set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which requires at least half of the constellation to be operational by then.
Though this marks a significant achievement for Amazon, it still lags behind its biggest competitor—SpaceX’s Starlink—which already has over 7,000 satellites in orbit and a user base exceeding 5 million globally. To accelerate deployment, Amazon has secured 83 launches through partnerships with United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and Blue Origin.
The newly launched satellites incorporate features designed to reduce interference with astronomical observations—an issue that has drawn criticism toward other satellite internet providers. Amazon has also committed to offering affordable consumer hardware, with terminals expected to cost under $400 when the service launches to customers later in 2025.
Despite entering a market with an established leader, Amazon’s approach appears focused on scalability and cost efficiency. With vast retail and logistics infrastructure backing the project, Project Kuiper could rapidly gain traction if rollout targets are met and service quality proves competitive.
The launch is a pivotal step toward Amazon’s broader ambitions in the satellite internet space, signaling that the race to dominate global connectivity is far from over. As deployments continue and service becomes available, Project Kuiper will be closely watched as a key challenger in one of the most ambitious communications infrastructure races of the decade.
