Amazon’s Project Kuiper: Whizzing LEO Satellites Toward Affordable, High-Speed Internet
Amazon’s ambitious Project Kuiper is the company’s entrance into low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite internet, designed to deliver fast and affordable connectivity to underserved communities worldwide. The enterprise, established in 2019 with its headquarters in Washington, production facilities in Kirkland, and launch preparation centers at the Kennedy Space Center, aims to deploy a constellation of 3,236 satellites to beam broadband worldwide.
The first experimental satellites were launched successfully in late 2023. Starting in April 2025, Amazon began deploying production units, 27 satellites in April, followed by another 27 in June, bringing the total to 54 in orbit by mid-2025. Amazon has also equipped the Kennedy Space Center with a $140 million payload-processing facility capable of prepping over 100 satellites per month.
Amazon holds an FCC license requiring that at least half, around 1,600 satellites, be fully operational by mid-2026, with the remainder deployed before July 2029.
Kuiper’s design includes optical inter-satellite laser links (OISL), capable of transferring data at up to 100 Gbps over distances of 1,000 km, with tests showing promise for up to 2,600 km.
Amazon plans to offer three types of customer terminals: a standard 11-inch dish, promising.
Amazon aims to keep terminal costs under $400, leveraging its hardware manufacturing expertise, and positioning Project Kuiper to compete head-to-head with Starlink’s $349-$499 equipment. Amazon also signed JetBlue Airways as its first airline partner. Beginning in 2027, select JetBlue aircraft will feature Kuiper-powered Wi-Fi as part of its Fly-Fi service—promising lower latency, higher reliability, and potentially up to 1 Gbps speeds.
CEO Andy Jassy emphasized Kuiper’s long-term role as a bridge over the digital divide, especially for rural and underserved communities. It's both a capital-intensive and potentially lucrative venture.
Kuiper joins other emerging LEO megaconstellations, such as SpaceX’s Starlink and OneWeb. Compared to Starlink’s 8,000+ satellites, Kuiper is starting smaller—but aiming for global reach. By the end of 2025, it hopes to begin beta service rollouts.
These systems, however, also raise environmental considerations. A sustainability study revealed that while LEO internet significantly expands access, it incurs a carbon cost, with 6 to 8 times higher emissions per subscriber compared to terrestrial mobile broadband.
Project Kuiper exemplifies Amazon’s bold entry into space-based broadband. With over 50 satellites in operation, an aggressive deployment schedule, and innovative tech, including OISL and streamlined, affordable user hardware, it’s fast becoming a credible competitor to Starlink and others.
The JetBlue partnership marks an exciting step toward everyday consumer relevancy, bringing high-speed LEO internet not just to remote homes but also to the friendly skies. As service testing begins in 2025, and full launch follows, Kuiper is poised to redefine how people, and airlines connect.
