What to know

  • Amazon launched 27 Project Kuiper satellites on April 28, 2025, from Florida.
  • This is the first major deployment for Amazon's planned 3,200-satellite broadband network.
  • The project aims to provide internet to underserved and remote communities worldwide.
  • Amazon's main competitor in this area is SpaceX's Starlink, which already has over 7,000 satellites in orbit.

Amazon has taken a significant step in its plan to provide global satellite internet. On April 28, 2025, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying 27 satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper into low Earth orbit. This launch marks the start of Amazon's effort to build a large satellite constellation to deliver broadband internet around the world, especially to areas that lack reliable service.

The 27 satellites are the first full batch of operational units for Project Kuiper. Amazon plans to deploy more than 3,200 satellites over the next several years, using more than 80 launches. The satellites were released at an altitude of about 280 miles (450 kilometers) and will move to their final operational height of 392 miles (630 kilometers).

Amazon's goal is to provide fast and reliable internet to unserved and underserved communities. The company has invested $10 billion in Project Kuiper, which was first announced in 2019. The project is seen as a direct competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, which already operates a much larger network of over 7,000 satellites and serves customers globally.

While Amazon has completed ground testing and launched two prototype satellites in 2023, this mission is the first deployment of its full-production satellites. Some aspects of their performance will only become clear after they are fully integrated into the network. Amazon expects to begin offering internet service to customers later this year.

The launch also highlights the growing competition in the commercial satellite internet sector. SpaceX continues to expand its Starlink network rapidly, with frequent launches. Amazon, through Project Kuiper, aims to close the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to more people worldwide.

Via: TheVerge