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Amazon LEO satellite internet development

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2026-10-13 07:07 UTC → 2026-10-14 14:58 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Amazon is progressing with its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet project, having manufactured its 1,000th satellite at its facility in Kirkland, Washington. The company intends to use the Vulcan rocket to launch commercial services aimed at global markets, positioning itself as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. In South Africa, Amazon Leo plans to expand its strategy to include direct-to-device (D2D) services, enabling unmodified mobile phones and IoT devices to connect directly to satellites. Mark Anderson, head of consumer operations at Amazon Leo EMEA, noted that the company has applied for regulatory licenses and is engaging with local mobile operators. This D2D service is expected to launch in South Africa around 2028 to complement existing infrastructure. Recent updates confirm that while over 1,000 units have been manufactured, 396 satellites are currently operating in orbit. To compete with Starlink, Amazon intends to bundle satellite broadband with its Prime subscriptions and other consumer ecosystem services, leveraging its retail, streaming, and AWS platforms to reduce subscriber acquisition costs. The Gen1 constellation architecture targets a total of 3,236 satellites operating at altitudes between 590 km and 630 km. To support deployment, Amazon has secured launch contracts with multiple providers, including United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX, while continuing to work through regulatory processes with the FCC regarding deployment timelines. As a competitor to Starlink, Amazon’s technology has shown significant performance capabilities. Tests conducted by the U.S. Army’s DEVCOM C5ISR Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground demonstrated that the Amazon Leo Pro antenna achieved download speeds exceeding 400 Mbps. This emergence of a viable alternative has drawn interest from national governments; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada aims to diversify its strategic telecommunications and defense providers to reduce reliance on Starlink and protect national interests.

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