Earlier this month, Amazon shared the news that its satellite broadband initiative has a new name – Amazon Leo. Today, the company announced that it will be launching a new preview for select business customers to begin testing the network ahead of a broader commercial rollout in 2026.
Here’s how Amazon describes the service.
Amazon Leo is designed to extend reliable, high-speed internet to those beyond the reach of existing networks, including the millions of businesses, government entities, and organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity. Amazon Leo will help close critical connectivity gaps across major industries, from energy and manufacturing to media and transportation, and these announcements represent another important step for the program as it moves from the deployment phase toward commercial operations.
Amazon Leo antennas provide download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds up to 400 Mbps. The equipment is engineered for the elements with a durable, weather-resistant design that can withstand high-and low temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds, making it a solid solution for locations where traditional services may not work.
“Amazon Leo represents a massive opportunity for businesses operating in challenging environments,” said Chris Weber, Vice President of consumer and enterprise business for Amazon Leo. “From our satellite and network design to our portfolio of high-performance phased array antennas, we’ve designed Amazon Leo to meet the needs of some of the most complex business and government customers out there, and we’re excited to provide them with the tools they need to transform their operations, no matter where they are in the world.”
For the preview, Amazon is partnering with businesses spanning a variety of industries. Initial partners include JetBlue, Vanu Inc., Hunt Energy Network, Connected Farms, and Crane Worldwide Logistics. Those businesses will get early access to hardware and software, network management tools, advanced encryption across the network, and 24/7 priority customer support. Amazon will use this time to test the hardware and software in real world scenarios and will says it will take the opportunity to collect more customer feedback and tailor solutions for specific industries ahead of a broader rollout.