Amazon's Internet Service through Project Kuiper to Launch Across 5 Nations by Early 2026
Amazon's space ambitions are taking shape with the progress of Project Kuiper, a satellite internet service designed to provide high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas worldwide.
In April, Amazon launched its first batch of Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit, marking the beginning of this ambitious project. However, the initiative has faced challenges in ramping up satellite production and delays in launches due to its reliance on commercial providers.
Despite these hurdles, Amazon is pushing forward with its plans. The company recently struck a deal with JetBlue to power in-flight Wi-Fi starting in 2027, making it the first airline to announce such a partnership with Kuiper.
The commercial service, initially targeted for late 2025, now has no specific markets or launch date confirmed. Amazon expects to have more than 200 satellites in low-Earth orbit by the end of the year for a commercial rollout.
Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to rival Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission requires Amazon to deploy roughly half of its planned 3,236 satellites (1,600) by the end of July 2026, with the rest launched by July 2029.
The coverage for Project Kuiper will initially include the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K. Beyond these countries, Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to offer satellite internet service to 88 to 100 countries by 2028, targeting a global spectrum of coverage beyond these already mentioned countries.
Kuiper Vice President Rajeev Badyal recently demonstrated the system achieving download speeds of 1,289 Mbps. The service is also expected to expand to cover up to 26 countries by the end of 2026.
Project Kuiper has already secured more than $100 million from the U.S. government's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Four successful launches have been completed for Project Kuiper, and another deployment is scheduled for later this month.
As Project Kuiper's foremost competitor, Starlink surpassed 7 million users across 150 countries and territories last month. With its global ambitions, Amazon's Project Kuiper is poised to make a significant impact in the satellite internet market.
The launch of Project Kuiper is expected to take place by the end of Q1 2026, with the service aiming to reach the equator in 2027 and achieve full global coverage (including the poles) by 2028. This development is set to revolutionize internet access for millions of people worldwide.
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