Amazon Project Kuiper is an initiative to provide satellite internet services to people who do not have reliable access to broadband, especially in remote areas. The project is expected to deploy and operate global satellite broadband services to many countries worldwide. Amazon has a team of over 1,000 engineers and supports personnel helping deliver on the vision for Project Kuiper.
Cost, complexity, and geography can make it difficult to install traditional, ground-based fiber and wireless connectivity solutions in many areas. Developing and deploying satellite technology requires significant innovation and investment. Amazon has the resources and people required to make it happen.
Project Kuiper’s initial satellite constellation design includes 3,236 satellites, and the project will operate in low Earth orbit (LEO). The proximity to the surface of the Earth means that it can deliver fast internet services to customers, making Project Kuiper connectivity effective for uses such as video calls, gaming, and high-definition streaming.
Amazon started Project Kuiper in 2018, and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Amazon a license to deploy and operate Project Kuiper satellites in July 2020. The FCC license requires that Amazon deploy and operate at least half of its satellite constellation by July 2026. The company is preparing to launch its first two prototype satellites in early 2023 and expects to provide service to the earliest Project Kuiper customers by the end of 2024.
Project Kuiper is based out of a state-of-the-art facility in Redmond, Washington, with additional satellite production facilities in Kirkland, Washington. The project has three main parts: ground infrastructure, satellites, and customer terminals. Amazon’s ground infrastructure includes gateway antennas that securely send and receive customer data to and from satellites, telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) antennas that keep the satellites properly operating and global networking that connects the gateway antennas to the internet, public cloud, or private networks.
Overall, Amazon Project Kuiper aims to bridge the digital divide and bring reliable internet connectivity to everyone, including unserved and underserved communities. Click here for more details.
