Amazon has officially entered the satellite internet market with the successful launch of its first 27 Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. The satellites lifted off aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday evening, marking a major milestone in the company’s $10 billion initiative to provide global broadband connectivity.
Initially announced six years ago, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s most ambitious space venture yet. The satellites, positioned approximately 280 miles above Earth, are designed to beam internet to underserved regions around the world. Amazon aims to begin commercial operations by the end of 2025.
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To meet U.S. regulatory requirements, Amazon must deploy at least half of its planned 3,200-satellite constellation by mid-2026. To that end, the company has secured over 80 rocket launches from providers including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and even rival SpaceX.
Despite entering the market late, Amazon is positioning Kuiper as a critical extension of its broader ecosystem, including Amazon Web Services and logistics. CEO Andy Jassy has expressed confidence in the project’s long-term returns, though industry analysts remain cautious given SpaceX’s significant lead—Starlink already operates over 8,000 satellites and serves 4.6 million users worldwide.
“This is just the beginning,” said Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Project Kuiper. “We’re ready to learn, adapt, and scale.”
