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.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised Türkiye’s strategic role in regional peace and stability during his visit to Ankara, highlighting its...
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s president has pledged to pursue justice for victims of the conflict in the east despite a peace deal with Rwanda,...
Factory activity across much of Asia weakened in June due to ongoing uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, though slight improvements in China, Japan, and So...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of an additional $500 million to Ukraine, following the completion of its ei...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday publicly criticized AT&T for technical issues that disrupted a national conference call with faith leaders, urgi...
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised Türkiye’s strategic role in regional peace and stability during his visit to Ankara, highlighting its efforts in addressing the Ukraine war, the Gaza crisis, and broader UK-Türkiye relations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s president has pledged to pursue justice for victims of the conflict in the east despite a peace deal with Rwanda, calling the accord a hopeful yet fragile step toward regional stability.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of an additional $500 million to Ukraine, following the completion of its eighth review under the country’s $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
Over the past year, 162 asteroids flew closer to Earth than the Moon. NASA and ESA warn only 40% of dangerous objects have been identified, with one asteroid posing a small risk of hitting the Moon in 2032.
A Chinese firm has launched what it claims is the country’s first 24/7 intelligent laser weeding robot, aiming to phase out chemical herbicides and cut agricultural pollution at its source.
Set on top of Chile’s Cerro Pachón mountain, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will soon embark on a ten-year survey, using cutting-edge technology to uncover new secrets of the universe.
Scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences have identified a genetic 'dimmer switch' that controls how genes turn on and off during embryo formation, offering insights for future therapies.
Japan has launched its H2A rocket for the final time, marking a shift to its next-generation H3 programme.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment