Amazon launched its first two test internet satellites, making a move into the space business. This is part of Amazon’s strategy to build a vast satellite network of more than 3,000 satellites to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink system and offer internet access to places with poor connections.
Amazon plans to utilize the test satellites, which were sent into orbit from Florida, to collect actual world data for its Kuiper satellite project. By the end of 2024, they want to begin testing with clients and launch operational satellites the following year. Amazon is required under their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to have half of the 3,236 satellites they want to launch in orbit by July 2026.
The major objective of Amazon’s Kuiper network is to use satellite signals to provide internet connectivity in off-the-grid locations. Starlink from SpaceX is a rival, but it will probably take some time for it to catch up as Starlink has already made considerable strides in the satellite internet industry.
