Amazon has officially entered the satellite internet arena with the successful launch of its first 27 operational satellites for Project Kuiper, the company’s ambitious low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband initiative. The satellites were launched aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7 PM EDT on April 28, 2025, following a weather-related delay earlier in the month.
Beginning Full-Scale Deployment of Project Kuiper
“This launch marks the start of full-scale deployment of Amazon’s Kuiper constellation and a significant step in commercial space launches,” ULA said in a statement. Amazon plans to deploy over 3,200 LEO satellites to provide high-speed, low-latency internet worldwide, especially targeting underserved and remote regions.
With this launch, Project Kuiper transitions from testing to active deployment. The company previously launched two prototype satellites in 2023 and now plans to carry out additional launches using both the Atlas V and the next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket. ULA is contracted to deliver more than half of the constellation’s satellites under what is currently the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.
A $10 Billion Global Connectivity Initiative
First unveiled in 2019, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s $10 billion effort to bridge the digital divide. The service aims to reach consumers, businesses, and government agencies in areas lacking reliable internet infrastructure.
To meet FCC requirements, Amazon must deploy at least 1,618 satellites—half of its planned constellation—by mid-2026. However, delays in the program’s initial schedule may prompt Amazon to seek deadline extensions. Monday’s launch kicks off a tight deployment window, with Amazon aiming to activate service later this year.
According to filings, Kuiper can begin offering regional services once 578 satellites are in orbit, gradually expanding to global coverage as deployment progresses. The satellites launched this week are expected to make contact with Amazon’s mission control center in Redmond, Washington within days.
Competing With Starlink
Project Kuiper enters a competitive market currently dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink, which has launched over 8,000 satellites and serves more than 5 million users in 125 countries. Starlink’s lead has been bolstered by SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rockets, enabling rapid and cost-efficient satellite deployment.
Despite being a late entrant, Amazon brings significant strengths to the table—particularly in consumer hardware and cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS). Project Kuiper plans to integrate with AWS to offer cloud-powered connectivity solutions.
Amazon has also revealed affordable and compact user terminals, including a standard dish roughly the size of a vinyl record and a miniaturized version similar to a Kindle. Each terminal is expected to cost under $400, with plans to manufacture tens of millions in the coming years.
Jeff Bezos: “There’s Room for Lots of Winners”
Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos remains bullish on Kuiper’s future. “There’s insatiable demand for internet access,” he said. “Starlink will continue to be successful, and I predict Kuiper will be successful as well. There’s room for lots of winners.”
With the first phase of deployment now underway, Project Kuiper is poised to accelerate Amazon’s push into the space-based broadband market—delivering global connectivity and further intensifying the race for internet from space.
