For building a network of more than 3,200 satellites to provide high-speed internet services to people globally who lack such access, Amazon will invest over $10 billion.
The development follows the FCC (Federal Communications Commission’s) approval of the plan – called “Project Kuiper” – that seeks to deliver high-speed broadband service to places beyond the reach of traditional wireless networks.
This kind of project needs significant effort as well as resources, and owing to the nature of LEO constellations, it’s not the kind of initiative that can start small, the company said.
The project is also likely to benefit wireless carriers deploying 5G and other wireless services to new regions, the US tech giant said.
Although extremely costly to deploy, the satellite technology is able to provide internet in rural regions where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach.
The FCC authorization requires the American multinational technology company to launch half of its satellites no later than mid-2026.
Sources said Amazon would begin to offer broadband service once about 578 satellites are launched.
The satellites would be designed as well as tested at a new R&D facility opening in Redmond, Washington, as per the latest inputs.