Amazon has announced its most ambitious plan to launch 3,236 low Earth orbit satellites to provide broadband access to millions worldwide. It was first spotted by GeekWire about the so-called Project Kuiper initiative. Kuiper Systems LLC recently came up with three filings with the ITU and the international organization in charge of coordinating satellite orbits. Amazon claimed that Kuiper Systems is one of its big projects.
Project Kuiper is a new initiative that is to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide with low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to the unserved and underserved communities across the world – Amazon spokesperson
Project Kuiper will comprise satellites at three different altitudes that include approximately 784 satellites at 367 miles, also 1,296 satellites at 379 miles, and 1,156 satellites at 391 miles. With internet access in areas ranging from 56 degrees north and 56 degrees south which is in line with the middle of Scotland down and below the southernmost tip of South America approximately. This area will theoretically cover over 95 percent of Earth’s population.
This is indeed a long-term project that foresees serving millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering this initiative with other companies that share a similar vision
Amazon didn’t reveal any other details about Project Kuiper, so it remains to be seen when the satellite network will be up and running, how much the whole endeavor will cost or which companies Amazon will partner with.
