Amazon Launches 27 Kuiper Sats, Rivals Starlink’s Internet Plan

Amazon launched 27 satellites from its Project Kuiper on Apr. 27 via an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This milestone advances the creation of a planned constellation of 3,236 satellites designed to deliver global broadband internet, particularly to remote and underserved regions.

Project Kuiper, a US$10 billion initiative announced in 2019, aims to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink by providing satellite-based internet connectivity and reducing dependence on terrestrial infrastructure. The 27 satellites are part of the larger constellation that will eventually form the network.

Starlink, which operates around 8,000 satellites and serves 5 million customers across 125 countries, currently dominates the market. In January, Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos highlighted the immense demand for such services.

Originally slated to launch in 2024, the Kuiper mission faced delays. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires Amazon to deploy at least half of its satellite constellation—1,617 satellites—by mid-2025.

In 2022, Amazon secured 83 rocket launches through deals with United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Blue Origin. A report from Raymond James in October estimated that deploying the full Kuiper constellation could cost up to US$17 billion.

Craig Moffett, Senior Managing Director, MoffettNathanson, told CNN that Project Kuiper might face challenges entering a market already dominated by Starlink. However, geopolitical concerns over Elon Musk’s political involvement have led some governments to explore alternatives.

Amazon expects to establish contact with the launched satellites within hours or days. If successful, the company plans to begin service by the end of 2025. According to a 2020 statement reported by Reuters, Amazon initially anticipated offering services in northern and southern regions after deploying 578 satellites.