Amazon has officially joined the satellite internet race. On Wednesday, the tech giant launched its first set of operational Project Kuiper satellites into space. This move shows Amazon’s bold step to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink in the fast-growing global broadband market.
Amazon launched 27 internet satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
This mission, named “KA-01” (Kuiper Atlas 1), placed the satellites about 280 miles above Earth. These satellites will orbit at speeds of 17,000 mph, circling the planet every 90 minutes.
“Our main goal with this launch is to safely deploy the satellites. They must move independently and communicate with our ground team,” Amazon said in a statement.
Amazon began planning Project Kuiper more than ten years ago. The project’s goal is to launch over 3,200 satellites to deliver high-speed internet worldwide, especially in underserved areas.
In October 2023, Amazon tested two prototype satellites—KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2—which performed well. These tests helped pave the way for this first full deployment.
Amazon has already booked 80 satellite launch missions from ULA, Arianespace, and Blue Origin. ULA alone will handle 46 of those launches, including seven more Atlas V rockets and 38 Vulcan Centaur rockets.
The Kuiper satellites will offer speeds up to 100 Mbps using compact user terminals. These include a small square antenna Amazon revealed in 2023.
Industry experts see this launch as a key moment for Amazon. However, some question if Amazon is too late since SpaceX has already launched over 7,000 Starlink satellites.
Even so, Amazon believes its technology and global reach will help it compete. The company plans to begin offering commercial services in late 2025.
On the same day as the launch, Bloomberg reported that Amazon canceled orders from China and other Asian countries. This decision likely came after new tariffs from both the U.S. and China. These tensions could slow down Project Kuiper’s rollout due to supply chain disruptions.
Despite these challenges, Amazon remains focused on building its satellite internet system.
ULA, Amazon’s launch partner, played a key role in this mission. After receiving approval to launch national security missions in March 2025, ULA plans 12 launches this year. It expects to double that number in 2026.
The Atlas V rocket performed well in this mission, while ULA’s next-gen Vulcan Centaur rocket is set to launch later in 2025 after earlier delays.
As Amazon monitors its newly launched satellites, the company moves closer to offering internet services across the globe. The battle between Amazon’s Kuiper and Elon Musk’s Starlink has officially begun.
At the GITEX Africa 2025 summit, Nigeria’s tech policy chief, Kashifu Inuwa, took the spotlight, urging the global tech ecosystem to keep AI development grounded in human values. Representing the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa joined global industry players to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping businesses across the world. During a panel […]
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has introduced the first computer-based WASSCE for school candidates in Nigeria. WAEC announced the major shift during a press briefing at its national office in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday. Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC Nigeria, said the council is fully prepared to conduct the 2025 exam using digital […]
This marks the seventh edition of the accelerator, open to Seed to Series A startups that have at least one founder of African descent, a live product in market, and a responsible approach to AI innovation.
Vendease CEO and co-founder Tunde Kara confirmed the exit, stating the business had recovered its investment in Ghana within six months.
The new PoS system comes with a range of advanced features, including real-time monitoring, instant settlements, pay-by-link options, and a 100% transaction success rate. It’s also been optimised to suit businesses of all sizes, giving merchants a more reliable and efficient way to manage their payments without disruption.
South African EV startup Zimi has received $320,000 (R6 million) to explore vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging technology. The Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) Africa Trust Fund awarded the funding for this innovative energy project. V2G allows electric vehicles to return power to homes, offices, or the national grid during electricity shortages. Notably, EEP Africa selected Zimi […]
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will start issuing licenses to new banks again from July 1, 2025. This move ends a ban that had been in place since November 17, 2015. CBK paused new bank licenses in 2015 to fix governance, management, and operational problems in the banking sector. The goal was to make […]
According to the letter, the licence comes with strict conditions, and the regulator made it clear that Ascensia—like all financial institutions—must operate within the provisions of the CBN Act of 2007, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) of 2020, and all related regulations issued by the bank.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has ordered Remita, a payment platform, to refund ₦182.77 billion to the federal government. This amount covers transaction leakages from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system since 2015. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House gave the order after a detailed forensic audit. Seyi Katola & Company, a firm […]
TikTok has launched a new feature called Footnotes to help users better understand the videos they watch. The company is testing the feature in the United States. With Footnotes, users can now add helpful information to videos. TikTok says this will give people more context, especially when content includes complex topics or current events. TikTok […]
At the GITEX Africa 2025 summit, Nigeria’s tech policy chief, Kashifu Inuwa, took the spotlight, urging the global tech ecosystem to keep AI development grounded in human values. Representing the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa joined global industry players to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping businesses across the world. During a panel […]
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has introduced the first computer-based WASSCE for school candidates in Nigeria. WAEC announced the major shift during a press briefing at its national office in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday. Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC Nigeria, said the council is fully prepared to conduct the 2025 exam using digital […]
This marks the seventh edition of the accelerator, open to Seed to Series A startups that have at least one founder of African descent, a live product in market, and a responsible approach to AI innovation.
Vendease CEO and co-founder Tunde Kara confirmed the exit, stating the business had recovered its investment in Ghana within six months.
The new PoS system comes with a range of advanced features, including real-time monitoring, instant settlements, pay-by-link options, and a 100% transaction success rate. It’s also been optimised to suit businesses of all sizes, giving merchants a more reliable and efficient way to manage their payments without disruption.
South African EV startup Zimi has received $320,000 (R6 million) to explore vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging technology. The Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) Africa Trust Fund awarded the funding for this innovative energy project. V2G allows electric vehicles to return power to homes, offices, or the national grid during electricity shortages. Notably, EEP Africa selected Zimi […]
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will start issuing licenses to new banks again from July 1, 2025. This move ends a ban that had been in place since November 17, 2015. CBK paused new bank licenses in 2015 to fix governance, management, and operational problems in the banking sector. The goal was to make […]
According to the letter, the licence comes with strict conditions, and the regulator made it clear that Ascensia—like all financial institutions—must operate within the provisions of the CBN Act of 2007, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) of 2020, and all related regulations issued by the bank.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has ordered Remita, a payment platform, to refund ₦182.77 billion to the federal government. This amount covers transaction leakages from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system since 2015. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House gave the order after a detailed forensic audit. Seyi Katola & Company, a firm […]
TikTok has launched a new feature called Footnotes to help users better understand the videos they watch. The company is testing the feature in the United States. With Footnotes, users can now add helpful information to videos. TikTok says this will give people more context, especially when content includes complex topics or current events. TikTok […]
Strive for tech news and insights? Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest tech trends, expert insights, and exclusive content.
Start your perfect news blog or magazine with Caards, the premium WordPress theme you've been looking for.
Error: No feed found.
Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.
© 2022. All rights reserved by Axilthemes.
No Comments