The Federal Communications Commission has granted Amazon approval to deploy an additional 4,500 low Earth orbit satellites for its broadband internet initiative, now known as Amazon Leo. This decision significantly expands the planned constellation, bringing the total to approximately 7,700 satellites and positioning the company to challenge established players in the satellite internet market.
Amazon Leo, originally launched as “Project Kuiper” in 2019, seeks to deliver high-speed, reliable internet access to underserved and unconnected regions worldwide. The project has progressed steadily, with more than 150 satellites already placed in orbit since initial launches began in April of the previous year. These deployments have utilized a variety of rocket providers to build out the first-generation fleet.
The newly approved satellites represent second-generation models, designed to operate at altitudes of up to about 400 miles. They incorporate enhancements such as support for additional frequency bands and expanded geographic coverage, including polar regions that were not fully addressed in the initial constellation design. This upgrade aims to improve overall service quality, increase bandwidth capacity, and enable broader global reach.
The FCC imposed specific milestones for the additional 4,500 satellites. Amazon must launch half of them by February 10, 2032, with the remainder in orbit by February 10, 2035. Separate requirements apply to the first-generation satellites, where the company faces a deadline to deploy 1,600 units by July 2026. Amazon has sought an extension for this milestone to July 2028 or a waiver, attributing delays to challenges in securing sufficient rocket launch capacity and accelerating satellite production beyond current deployment rates. Regulators have yet to decide on that request, though the company remains committed to completing the full first-generation constellation by mid-2029. …