Amazon’s Internet Service Will Be Available Worldwide

It seems Amazon will do just about anything to keep customers connected to its online shopping platform. Via a network of satellites, the retail behemoth is bringing high-speed, reliable internet to shoppers around the world.

As part of Project Kuiper, Amazon is launching dozens of satellites into Earth’s orbit. Under the mission named KA-01, the first round of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites will ride aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, which launches on April 9.

“Our initial objective for the KA-01 mission is to deploy all of the satellites safely in orbit, which means they can independently maneuver and communicate with our team on the ground,” an Amazon blog post shared. “To do so, once the satellites have successfully separated from the rocket, they will begin a series of mostly automated steps to activate onboard systems and use their electric propulsion systems to gradually ascend to their assigned orbit of 392 miles.”

Ultimately, Amazon will have more than 3,200 LEO satellites. With speeds approaching 17,000 mph, it will take 90 minutes for the satellites to circle the Earth.

Amazon’s Internet Service Will Take on Starlink

Amazon’s satellite-powered internet service will be available worldwide and will likely go online by the end of the year. Users will need a small terminal antenna to communicate with the satellites. According to the company, users can expect speeds up to 100Mbps, with enterprise plans reaching 1Gbps.

The closest competitor to Amazon’s satellite internet is SpaceX’s Starlink. The Elon Musk-owned company also offers worldwide internet via a satellite network to both residential and commercial customers. Currently, Starlink has about 7,000 LEO satellites in its network.

Beyond April 9, more launches are planned for the KA-01 mission. Some will use the same ULA rockets, while others will be launched via other providers, such as Blue Origin, Arianespace, and even SpaceX.

Once KA-01 completes, Amazon intends to increase the production and deployment of satellites. The company is currently working on the next batch of satellites, which will also launch via a ULA Atlas V rocket, for the next mission — KA-02.

“No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years,” said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.