Amazon’s long-awaited answer to SpaceX’s Starlink is finally nearing liftoff. According to an exclusive report from Reuters, the company plans to begin offering its Leo satellite internet service later this year, after its latest rocket launch pushed the constellation to 394 satellites in orbit.
The pieces are finally falling into place for Project Kuiper
The milestone came after Amazon’s latest mission deployed 29 additional satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. According to Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper), there’s still work to do before the satellites reach their final operating positions. Still, Amazon has now completed enough launches to begin its initial rollout this year.
Last few launches were big for @AmazonLeo – bringing us to 390+ satellites deployed, enough to support continuous service across initial latitudes.
Still lots of work ahead – including raising all these new satellites to their assigned altitude – but we’ve completed enough… pic.twitter.com/UZb404fXRq
— Chris Weber (@Weber44Chris) July 2, 2026
Amazon hasn’t yet disclosed which countries or regions will receive service first. However, Reuters reports that coverage is expected to begin near the Earth’s north and south poles before gradually expanding toward the equator as more satellites are added to the network. Eventually, Leo aims to deploy more than 3,200 satellites to achieve global broadband coverage.
A serious new rival to Starlink
Unlike traditional satellite internet services that rely on a handful of satellites positioned far above Earth, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations place thousands of satellites much closer to the planet. This innovative approach significantly reduces latency while improving speeds, making it far more practical for various applications, ranging from streaming and video calls to online gaming and remote work.
Amazon
This is precisely the market Amazon aims to tap into. Similar to Starlink, the company plans to provide internet service to households via dedicated user terminals while also targeting businesses, governments, and sectors such as airlines. With Starlink currently operating approximately 10,000 satellites, Amazon has a considerable path ahead. However, the entry of another major player into the LEO internet race could increase competition, enhance service coverage, and potentially lower prices for consumers in the years to come.
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