Now Amazon is asking the FCC permission to launch 3,236 satellites to start building out their new home internet service.
This idea is not new as SpaceX has already launched a few low orbit test satellites to offer home internet that have reportedly been very successful. Reports say SpaceX plans to launch 4,425 satellites as part its low orbit internet services. Softbank-backed OneWeb has also already launched six satellites with the goal of launching 650 more to offer internet service from space.
This is good news for cord cutters as it brings one more option for home internet. Combined with 5G, fiber, and fixed wireless internet soon your home internet options will no longer be limited to DSL or cable.
Back in early June 2019, Jeff Bezos opened up more about his plans to for high-speed internet from space sold by Amazon.
“The goal here is broadband everywhere, but the very nature of [having] thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit is very different from geostationary satellites. … You have equal broadband all over the surface of Earth. Not exactly equal, it tends to be a lot more concentrated toward the poles, unfortunately.
“But you end up servicing the whole world. So it’s really good. By definition, you end up accessing people who are ‘under-bandwidthed.’ Very rural areas, remote areas. And I think you can see going forward that internet, access to broadband is going to be very close to being a fundamental human need as we move forward.
“So Project Kuiper has that. It’s also a very good business for Amazon because it’s a very high-capex [capital expenditure] undertaking. It’s multiple billions of dollars of capex. … Amazon is a large enough company now that we need to do things that, if they work, can actually move the needle.”
This is great news for rural American and developing countries as it could mean fast high-speed internet even if you live far from a city.
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