Amazon Launches First Kuiper Satellites, Kicks Off $10B Challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink
Amazon officially entered the space internet race this week, launching the first 27 satellites for its long-awaited Project Kuiper. The satellites blasted off Monday evening atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, kicking off Amazon’s ambitious $10 billion plan to build a global broadband network to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Project Kuiper plans to eventually deploy 3,236 satellites, aiming to provide fast internet access to remote and underserved areas worldwide. Despite a year of delays, Amazon is racing against a tight U.S. FCC deadline to launch half the constellation—over 1,600 satellites—by mid-2026. If all goes smoothly, Amazon expects to start offering service to customers later this year.
While SpaceX already dominates the market with more than 8,000 Starlink satellites and millions of users across 125 countries, Amazon is betting that its consumer tech experience, cloud infrastructure, and new low-cost Kuiper terminals will help it carve out a sizable share. As the broadband battle heats up, Jeff Bezos is confident there’s enough “insatiable demand” for both Kuiper and Starlink to thrive.
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