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takyon writes:

Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3,236-satellite 'Project Kuiper' constellation

Amazon is joining the race to provide broadband internet access around the globe via thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, newly uncovered filings show.

The effort, code-named Project Kuiper, follows up on last September's mysterious reports that Amazon was planning a "big, audacious space project" involving satellites and space-based systems. The Seattle-based company is likely to spend billions of dollars on the project, and could conceivably reap billions of dollars in revenue once the satellites go into commercial service.

It'll take years to bring the big, audacious project to fruition, however, and Amazon could face fierce competition from SpaceX, OneWeb and other high-profile players.

[...] The filings lay out a plan to put 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit — including 784 satellites at an altitude of 367 miles (590 kilometers); 1,296 satellites at a height of 379 miles (610 kilometers); and 1,156 satellites in 391-mile (630-kilometer) orbits.

In response to GeekWire's inquiries, Amazon confirmed that Kuiper Systems is actually one of its projects.

"Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world," an Amazon spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision."

Amazon said the satellites would provide data coverage for spots on Earth ranging in latitude from 56 degrees north to 56 degrees south. About 95 percent of the world's population lives within that wide swath of the planet.

SpaceX and Amazon/Blue Origin have the clear advantage, potentially providing 100% of their own launches. Also, Blue Origin has agreed to launch satellites for Telesat, a competitor.

Filings at ITU.

Also at TechCrunch, CNBC, and Ars Technica.

Previously: Blue Origin to Provide Multiple Orbital Launches for Telesat
SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1 Million Starlink Ground Stations, Faces Pentagon Audit
SpaceX and OneWeb Clash Over Proposed Satellite Constellation Orbits

Original Submission

1. "takyon" - https://soylentnews.org/~takyon/
2. "Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3,236-satellite 'Project Kuiper' constellation" - https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazon-project-kuiper-broadband-satellite/
3. "planning a "big, audacious space project"" - https://www.geekwire.com/2018/beyond-cloud-amazon-web-services-hiring-engineers-big-audacious-space-project/
4. "Filings at ITU" - https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/8718
5. "TechCrunch" - https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/04/amazon-joins-spacex-oneweb-and-facebook-in-the-race-to-create-space-based-internet-services/
6. "CNBC" - https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/amazon-project-kuiper-broadband-internet-small-satellite-network.html
7. "Ars Technica" - https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/04/amazon-follows-spacex-into-satellite-broadband-plans-worldwide-service/
8. "Blue Origin to Provide Multiple Orbital Launches for Telesat" - https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=19/01/31/2354243
9. "SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1 Million Starlink Ground Stations, Faces Pentagon Audit" - https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=19/02/13/1632214
10. "SpaceX and OneWeb Clash Over Proposed Satellite Constellation Orbits" - https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=19/03/23/0218226
11. "Original Submission" - https://soylentnews.org/submit.pl?op=viewsub&subid=32796

printed from SoylentNews, Amazon Planning its Own Satellite-Based Broadband Service, with 3,236 Satellites in Low Earth Orbit on 2025-06-24 20:01:10