Amazon gets FCC extension for Leo satellite internet constellation

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission granted Amazon a crucial deadline extension for its Leo satellite‑internet network, relieving the company of the requirement to launch 1,600 satellites by July 30, 2026. Amazon currently has about 331 satellites in orbit, far short of the 1,616 needed to meet the original milestone. The overall schedule for the full 3,232‑satellite constellation still targets July 30, 2029.

Amazon attributes the shortfall to launch‑vehicle shortages and delays affecting Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, noting that a New Glenn explosion last month halted planned payloads. The FCC’s decision preserves Amazon’s spectrum‑priority status for now, though missing the mid‑term deadline would cause the company to lose that priority until it reaches 50 % deployment or March 30, 2028, whichever comes first. SpaceX, which operates the competing Starlink system, objected to the extension, claiming Amazon has launched only six percent of its approved satellites over the past six years.