Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) successfully launched its first 27 operational satellites for Project Kuiper on Monday, marking the company’s entry into the satellite internet industry, which is currently dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink.
The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
This launch follows two test satellites sent into space in 2023. Project Kuiper plans to eventually deploy a total of 3,236 satellites to provide global broadband internet coverage. Amazon aims to begin offering service later this year, focusing on underserved regions and going head-to-head with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Starlink currently operates over 7,000 satellites and provides internet access to more than 5 million users in 125 countries.
The launch comes after several delays, with Amazon now under pressure from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy half of its satellite network by mid-2026.
Amazon has invested over $10 billion in Project Kuiper and secured multiple launch contracts with companies like Blue Origin and Arianespace.
This move into the satellite internet market is a key part of Amazon’s strategy to diversify its business. The company plans to leverage its existing infrastructure and cloud services as it competes in this growing sector.
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