After multiple delays, Amazon tomorrow will finally launch the first of what is expected to be thousands of satellites that will power a new internet service.
Amazon has been working on this project, code-named Kuiper, since 2019. This is not just some side project; according to Amazon CEO Andy Jassey, it is now one of the main focuses of the company as Amazon wants to bring affordable high-speed internet to millions.
This launch will allow Amazon to test out its home internet service before finally starting mass production and a broader launch in 2024. The satellite will hitch a ride with United Launch Alliance on an Atlas V rocket. The launch window will open at 2 p.m. ET, but is subject to change for a variety of reasons, including weather.
Amazon had originally hoped to launch the first test satellites in early 2023, but their initial launch partners suffered delays. Now, it seems Amazon has found a partner who will be able to launch these satellites this year.
A year ago, Amazon said that Project Kuiper would launch more than 3,000 satellites into low-earth orbit to enable its home internet service. To do this, Amazon has announced plans to build the required satellites in Kirkland, Washington, and launch them with multiple launch partners.
Amazon has also secured a deal with ULA, Arianespace, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin to launch these satellites into space starting in early 2024. Amazon is facing a deadline as the Federal Communications Commission has given it until mid-2026 to have 1,600 satellites in space or face losing its approval for the project.
In July, Amazon announced its new home internet service will build a new satellite-processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This $120 million building will create up to 50 new jobs, and will be used to assemble the satellite prior to lift-off. The 100,000-square-foot facility features a 100-foot tall high bay clean room to allow room for the payload firing of new heavy-lift rockets like Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan Centaur.
What speeds should you expect?
Here are the three internet speed options Amazon Home Internet will offer:
Standard This standard version will come with an 11″ square antenna that will offer speeds up to 400 Mbps down. This will be perfect for homes.
Pro Version If you need a lot of speed, Amazon has an 11″ by 30″ pro antenna that can offer speeds up to 1 Gbps. This will be perfect for companies or large households.
Portable Version Now if speed is not that important to you, but you want something you can easily travel with, you may want Amazon’s ultra-portable version that is just 7″ square and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps.
What price should you expect?
Reports are that Amazon is hoping to undercut Starlink. So look for a price at or below $100 a month. That may not sound cheap to some, but if you live in a rural area where your options are limited, high-speed internet for under $100 is a great deal.
Here is what Amazon said about the pricing of its new Internet service.
Amazon hasn’t announced pricing details yet, but affordability is a key principle of Project Kuiper. Amazon has a longstanding commitment to low prices, and lots of experience building popular, low-cost devices like Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick. We’re applying a similar approach with Project Kuiper. We also know customer needs will vary quite a bit around the world, and our service offerings may vary from country to country with the right pricing and service for customers in each region.
Yahoo in July posted an interview with Peter Cohan, an associate professor of management practice at Babson College, who said he wouldn’t be surprised if the service would cost $1,000 a year. That would work out to be just over $83 a month.
This launch, like all launches, is subject to delays for a long list of reasons, including weather.