Amazon Launches Satellites to Compete with Starlink

Key takeaways

Amazon’s Project Kuiper hopes to compete with Starlink, which already has 8,000 satellites in orbit and plans available around the world
Amazon’s goal is to deliver residential internet service sometime in late 2025 or 2026
The launch of the 27 satellites is just the second round of many to build out its constellation of over 3,200 satellites
Kuiper plans to offer internet speeds of 100 to 1,000 Mbps

It’s been a long time coming, but Amazon’s Project Kuiper is now in full swing with another successful launch of 27 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites on June 23, as Amazon aims to become a competitor to Starlink’s internet service.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket launched the newest batch of satellites for Amazon’s mega constellation just before 7 a.m. on Monday, June 23. The launch comes after two previous delays due to weather and engine issues.

Today’s launch is just the second of many, as Amazon aims to have a constellation of 3,200+ LEO satellites to deliver internet service to millions of customers. LEO satellites orbit closer to Earth, resulting in faster satellite internet connectivity and lower latency than traditional satellite service.

As Amazon ramps up its satellite internet service, it also hopes to compete directly with Starlink, which has a constellation of almost 8,000 LEO satellites and an already well-established satellite internet service available across the U.S. and almost 90 other countries. While the newest satellite player is now officially active in space, Starlink is several years and thousands of satellites ahead of Amazon.

What’s next for Project Kuiper?

Now that Amazon has satellites in space, the company will continue to launch more satellites to build out its 3,200-strong constellation. Amazon has booked 80 launches with ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin and Arianespace. ULA will deliver more than half of Amazon’s satellites to space.

The company is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch at least half of its total constellation by July 2026, so you can expect consistent launches in the next few years. While it may be a while before its constellation is complete, Amazon has stated a goal of delivering internet service sometime in 2025 or 2026.

Follow along with Project Kuiper’s mission updates.

What will Project Kuiper’s internet plans look like?

According to Amazon, Project Kuiper’s “ultra-compact” service will deliver 100 Mbps, its standard internet service 400 Mbps and its largest service model up to 1,000 Mbps of internet speed.

Amazon hasn’t announced any pricing details yet, but you can count on competitive pricing to rival Starlink’s, which ranges from $80.00 – $120.00/mo. for its residential services.

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