Amazon launched the first 27 satellites for its Kuiper broadband internet project on Monday, marking the start of its long-delayed effort to rival SpaceX’s Starlink and provide global internet coverage from space.
Amazon launched the first 27 satellites for its Kuiper broadband internet constellation on Monday from Florida, marking the start of its long-awaited rollout of a space-based internet network to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. These satellites are the first of 3,236 planned for low-Earth orbit as part of Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative launched in 2019 to provide global broadband internet to consumers, businesses, and governments—targeting the same market that SpaceX’s Starlink has been courting for years.
The satellites were deployed aboard an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, with the launch occurring at 7 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission had been delayed by bad weather, which scrubbed the original launch attempt on April 9.
Kuiper represents Amazon’s most significant investment to date, challenging both Starlink and global telecom giants like AT&T and T-Mobile. The company has marketed the service as a solution for rural areas with limited or no internet connectivity.
The deployment of these first operational satellites has been delayed by more than a year, with Amazon originally planning to launch the first batch in early 2024. The company faces a deadline set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy half of its constellation, or 1,618 satellites, by mid-2026. Given the slower start, analysts predict Amazon will likely request an extension. Within hours or days after the launch, Amazon is expected to confirm initial contact with all the satellites from its mission operations center in Redmond, Washington. If successful, the company plans to begin offering service later this year.
ULA could launch up to five additional Kuiper missions in 2025, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno. Amazon has stated that service could begin in certain northern and southern regions with just 578 satellites, with coverage expanding toward the equator as more satellites are launched.
Despite a late start in a market dominated by SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper leverages the company’s extensive consumer product expertise and its established cloud computing infrastructure, which it believes will give it an advantage over Starlink.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for October 20th, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Germany has recalled its ambassador to Georgia, Ernst Peter Fischer, for what it says are “consultations on how to proceed”.
China’s economy grew 4.8% year-on-year in the third quarter, as official data showed the country remains on course to meet its annual growth target of around 5%.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for October 20th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Two Hong Kong airport security staff were killed early on Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway on landing, collided with their security patrol vehicle and pushed it into the sea.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba-backed Ant Group (688688.SS) and e-commerce company JD.com have halted plans to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong after the government raised concerns about the increasing influence of privately controlled currencies, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
Apple has pledged to increase its investment in China despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, CEO Tim Cook said during a meeting with China’s industry minister.
SpaceX launched its 11th Starship from Texas on 13 October, landing in the Indian Ocean ahead of testing an upgraded version for future moon and Mars missions.
From Sunday, all non-EU citizens, including British visitors, will face new biometric checks when entering and exiting the European Union under its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES).
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University, Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, and Omar Yaghi of the University of California.
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