Amazon is preparing to launch the first full batch of satellites for its Project Kuiper on Wednesday, marking a significant step in its rivalry with Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide high-speed internet access globally.
A total of 27 satellites will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 7:00 PM (2300 GMT) aboard an Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s service is designed to provide internet connectivity to remote and underserved areas, including war zones and regions affected by disasters.
The satellites will be positioned hundreds of miles above Earth, laying the groundwork for Project Kuiper, which Amazon envisions as a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites in total.
Amazon, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has confirmed that the internet service will be launched later this year. However, the pricing details have not yet been revealed, though the company has promised it will align with its reputation for offering cost-effective solutions.
This launch signals Amazon’s entry into direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has established itself as the dominant player in the satellite internet sector.
SpaceX launched its first batch of Starlink satellites in 2019 and has since built a constellation of over 6,750 operational satellites, with more than five million global customers. Starlink has already provided internet access to numerous disaster and conflict zones, including Morocco after the 2023 earthquake and to front-line areas in Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Unlike traditional internet services, which rely on fewer satellites positioned more than 35,000 kilometres (22,000 miles) away, both Musk’s and Bezos’s services use low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned between 550 and 1,300 kilometres (350-810 miles) above Earth. This allows for quicker data transmission, providing internet access in regions without existing landline connections.
“Cost, complexity, and geography can make it difficult to install traditional, ground-based fibre and wireless connectivity solutions in these areas,” explains Amazon.
However, LEO satellites are only accessible within a smaller area, meaning more satellites are required to ensure global coverage, necessitating regular launches.
Amazon sees this as an opportunity to establish itself as a major player in a rapidly growing market, even as it faces intense competition from SpaceX’s Starlink.
The company has plans to ramp up satellite launches in the coming months and years, with more than 80 launches ordered from providers including ULA, Bezos’s space company Blue Origin, and even SpaceX.
These satellites will join an increasingly crowded low Earth orbit, already home to Starlink and other emerging players such as Europe’s OneWeb and China’s Guowang.
Concerns have been raised about the potential for satellite congestion and the risk of collisions, as well as the possible interference with astronomical observations.
The growing presence of private companies in space has also raised political questions, particularly in light of Musk’s influential role as an advisor to US President Donald Trump. Musk has expressed doubts about the future of Starlink in Ukraine, a service that has been crucial for Ukraine’s military operations. Nevertheless, Musk assured in March that “no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals.”
