Amazon has officially entered the satellite internet race, launching its first 27 Kuiper satellites into space from Florida. This mission marks the beginning of Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative to bring high-speed internet to underserved communities worldwide-especially in rural zones where traditional connectivity lags.

The goal is to deploy a whopping 3,236 satellites in low-Earth orbit, competing directly with Elon Musk’s Starlink. While Starlink already has over 8,000 satellites in operation, Amazon is betting on its consumer tech experience and cloud infrastructure to give it an edge.

Despite starting late, Amazon is under pressure to launch half its planned satellites-at least 1,618-by mid-2026 to comply with U.S. FCC regulations. With more launches planned this year, Amazon aims to roll out services to customers by the end of 2025.

Amazon has developed compact, affordable user terminals (one as small as a Kindle) and secured 83 launch contracts with aerospace giants like ULA, Arianespace, and Blue Origin.

Jeff Bezos Says:

“There’s room for more than one winner,” Bezos said, hinting at both Kuiper and Starlink thriving in a world hungry for faster, more reliable global internet.