Jeff Bezos' Amazon has successfully launched the first satellite for its satellite internet construction project 'Kuiper.' Competition in satellite internet will likely intensify against Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink.
Amazon launched 27 Kuiper satellites into space using the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7 p.m. local time on the 28th. The launch was initially scheduled for the 2nd, but was successfully completed after being postponed.
Satellite internet is a service that provides high-speed internet globally through artificial satellites placed in low Earth orbit. Amazon has been working on the Kuiper project since 2019, with plans to launch over 3,200 satellites over the next 10 years for its satellite internet business. It also revealed plans to invest more than $10 billion (14.3688 trillion won) in the Kuiper project.
This launch marks the first commercial launch of Kuiper in six years. Previously, two test satellites were launched in October 2023. Amazon has already signed satellite launch contracts with Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
In the satellite internet market, SpaceX's Starlink is the dominant player. Starlink currently operates over 7,000 satellites, aiming to launch a total of about 24,000 satellites. Although it has not yet launched all of its planned satellites, it is already earning nearly $10 billion annually from the Starlink business.
Amazon plans to compete with Starlink through Kuiper. Reuters noted that the Kuiper project, while starting late, has an advantage over SpaceX in terms of robust web services and consumer product experience.
Besides Amazon, the UK's OneWeb is also building a satellite internet network. Hanwha System from South Korea is participating in OneWeb's board. Currently, OneWeb operates 648 satellites for internet service.