Amazon Launches First Kuiper Satellites, Entering Starlink's Orbit

Published 4 hours agoAMZN

Amazon Launches First Kuiper Satellites, Entering Starlink's Orbit

Amazon has taken a significant step in its ambitious Project Kuiper, launching its first 27 internet satellites. The launch, executed from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 28, 2025, is the beginning of a $10 billion initiative aimed at developing a vast global broadband network. This marks Amazon's entry into the satellite internet sector, a field currently dominated by SpaceX's Starlink.

Project Kuiper plans to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites to assure global broadband access, particularly focusing on remote and rural locations where internet service is scarce. According to regulatory requirements, Amazon needs to have at least half of its satellite constellation—1,618 satellites—deployed by mid-2026. The company aims to introduce its service later in 2025 with consumer terminals priced at under $400, Reuters reported. This launch asserts Amazon’s competitive stance against Starlink, which already boasts over 8,000 satellites in orbit and serves more than 5 million users worldwide.

Beyond just providing broadband, Amazon’s strategy for Project Kuiper includes leveraging its cloud computing prowess and consumer electronics background to support the satellite network. Additionally, the satellites incorporate a mirror coating to reduce light pollution, meeting environmental concerns. Amazon has planned numerous future launches with partners like United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin to continue building its satellite constellation, as noted by AP News.

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