July 15, 2025 Amazon plans to begin offering satellite internet service in the second half of 2025, moving into direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink and other global providers.
The company is currently building a $120 million satellite processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That site will serve as a final assembly point before Amazon’s Kuiper satellites are launched into orbit. Amazon has committed to deploying at least half of its planned 3,232 satellites by July 2026 to comply with U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements.
The service, part of Amazon’s broader Project Kuiper initiative, aims to offer affordable broadband in underserved areas worldwide. Amazon has already begun testing customer terminals and expects early field trials to begin by the end of 2024. Pricing has not been announced, but executives say it will be competitive with existing satellite internet options.
While Amazon is entering a market dominated by Starlink’s 2.6 million customers, it is banking on scale, logistics, and its web services platform to gain an edge. The company says it intends to leverage its global cloud infrastructure and retail network to support satellite internet customers.
The Kuiper constellation will be launched using a combination of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur, and Ariane 6 rockets from Arianespace. The diversity of launch partners is meant to ensure flexibility and reduce delays.
Amazon expects to begin commercial operations “by the end of 2025,” according to statements made to PYMNTS. If successful, the service could provide a new revenue stream at a time when Amazon is looking to expand its cloud and infrastructure offerings beyond traditional markets.
