Amazon’s Starlink-style satellite tv for pc web challenge simply received a brand new identify
Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Amazon’s Undertaking Kuiper satellite tv for pc web service is getting rebranded because it prepares to launch in 26 nations by Spring 2026, concentrating on speeds as much as 1.2 Gbps.
- PCWorld studies the $10 billion challenge goals to compete immediately with Starlink, beginning with 200 satellites and increasing to three,000 for international protection.
- The service guarantees aggressive pricing and steady connections for distant areas missing fiber web entry.
Starlink presents some massive advantages over common residence web, however what we actually want are opponents in that area. Amazon desires to be a type of opponents with Undertaking Kuiper, a satellite tv for pc web service that’s nonetheless within the works and may very well be operational by 2026.
Satellite tv for pc web is a boon for folks in distant areas who don’t have entry to fiber optic networks and different types of high-speed web. It’s additionally comes with its personal quirks and disadvantages, however most of these aren’t deal-breakers. The large one is whether or not you’re keen at hand over cash to SpaceX and Elon Musk, therefore the necessity for opponents.
Amazon is working exhausting on Undertaking Kuiper. However because the official launch edges ever nearer, Amazon has determined it’s lastly time to provide the service a correct new identify.
Amazon’s new identify for Undertaking Kuiper
Amazon Leo in 26 nations subsequent yr
Amazon’s Starlink different is about to launch in 26 nations in Spring 2026, together with the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany. Amazon is claimed to have not too long ago offered the challenge at a convention.
At launch, the corporate plans to ship 200 satellites into low Earth orbit to make the Leo community obtainable to its first customers. Round half of those have already been launched into orbit with the assistance of SpaceX rockets. By comparability, Starlink initially launched with simply 60 satellites however has since grown to over 8,000 satellites in orbit.
After the preliminary launch in choose nations, Amazon will probably provide the challenge in nations past the equator with the assistance of three,000 extra satellites. Nonetheless, it may very well be just a few months—and even years—earlier than it’s similar to Starlink by way of protection.
What does Amazon Leo provide?
Amazon is clearly aiming for high-speed web with Leo. In preliminary checks, it’s mentioned to have achieved switch charges of between 1 to 1.2 Gbps. For uploads, the corporate is aiming for 400 Mbps, which is roughly similar to the efficiency of Starlink.
Nonetheless, extra is required to maintain up with the competitors. Amazon should be sure that the web connection stays steady and guarded towards outages. Starlink remains to be liable to disruption, with a significant worldwide outage one month in the past that left hundreds of customers with out web.
Amazon’s plans are formidable however not far-fetched. We don’t have particular pricing data for Leo but, however the complete prices are anticipated to be as much as $10 billion by launch time. (The launch of the primary satellites in April alone value $150 million.) However, the plan costs at launch shouldn’t be unreasonably excessive if Amazon expects to compete with Starlink.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
