Amazon Challenges Musk’s Starlink with Launch of First Internet Satellite

Amazon’s Kuiper Broadband Internet Constellation successfully launched its first 27 satellites into space from Florida on Monday, marking the beginning of a significant rollout of space-based internet networks, comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink.

These satellites are the initial part of a larger plan to deploy 3,236 at low Earth orbit as part of Project Kuiper. Launched in 2019, this billion-dollar initiative aims to deliver beam broadband internet globally to consumers, businesses, and government entities. SpaceX has been a notable client in this competitive landscape due to its robust Starlink operations.

Launched aboard the Atlas V rockets from Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s Joint United Launch Alliance, the batch of 27 satellites lifted off at 7 PM EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The initial launch attempt on April 9th was postponed due to bad weather.

Project Kuiper represents Amazon’s largest venture into the broadband sector, entering the fray against Starlink and established telecom providers like AT&T and T-Mobile. The company aims to enhance connectivity in rural areas where access is limited or absent.

The deployment of the first operational satellite faced delays exceeding a year, with Amazon initially targeting early 2024 for its first batch. The Federal Communications Commission has set a deadline for Amazon to launch 1,618 satellites by mid-2026, prompting the company to likely seek an extension.

Following the launch, Amazon anticipates publicly confirming initial contact with the satellites from its Mission Operations Center in Redmond, Washington, within hours or days. If successful, the company expects to commence customer service later this year.

According to ULA CEO Tory Bruno, five more Kuiper missions can be launched this year. Amazon indicated in its 2020 FCC filing that it could start service with some of its 578 satellites in the northern and southern regions, gradually extending towards the equator as more satellites are deployed.

As an ambitious initiative in a market primarily dominated by SpaceX, Project Kuiper reflects Amazon’s extensive experience in consumer products and established cloud computing services, positioning itself as a competitor to Starlink.

In 2023, Amazon successfully launched two prototype satellites, paving the way for further developments. The program had maintained a lower profile until unveiling its initial Kuiper launch plans earlier this month.

SpaceX enjoys a unique advantage, serving as both a satellite operator and launch provider with its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, having placed over 8,000 Starlink satellites into orbit since 2019. Monday marked the 250th dedicated Starlink launch, with a rapid deployment schedule of at least one mission per week to enhance network bandwidth and replace outdated satellites.

This accelerated pace has led to SpaceX acquiring over 5 million internet users across 125 countries, boosting the global satellite communications market while supporting military and intelligence operations through Starlink’s advanced capabilities.

Amazon’s executive chair, Jeff Bezos, expressed optimism regarding Kuiper’s competitive potential against Starlink, noting to Reuters in a January interview that there is “an insatiable demand.”

“There’s a lot of room for winners there. Starlink expects it will continue to succeed, and Kuiper expects it will succeed,” Bezos stated.

“It will be primarily a commercial system, but these LEO constellations have defensive applications as well,” he added, referring to low Earth orbit.

In 2023, Amazon unveiled the Kuiper Consumer terminal, a compact antenna the size of an LP record that connects with overhead Kuiper satellites, along with a small terminal comparable to Kindle e-readers. The company aims to produce devices for tens of millions of users, each costing less than $400.

In 2022, Amazon secured 83 rocket launches from French Arianespace and Blue Origin ULA.