Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are now taking their rivalry to space with the launch of satellite internet services. Amazon, founded by Bezos, is launching Project Kuiper, a constellation of internet satellites that will compete with Musk’s SpaceX Starlink service, which is already serving millions of customers globally.
The first 27 Project Kuiper satellites are set to launch on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellites will be deployed in a circular orbit at 280 miles above the Earth’s surface, with plans to eventually operate over 3,200 satellites in the constellation.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper will not only target residential customers in remote areas but will also integrate with Amazon Web Services for businesses and governments worldwide. The service will allow companies to communicate with remote equipment, making it attractive for industries like energy, satellite imagery, and weather forecasting.
While Amazon plans to start connecting customers to the internet later this year, they still have a long way to go in deploying thousands of satellites and building ground stations. The Federal Communications Commission has set a deadline for Amazon to deploy at least half of the satellites by July 30, 2026, with analysts predicting potential extensions based on progress.
Overall, the battle between Bezos and Musk in space is intensifying as they race to provide high-speed internet services to the world. The success of Project Kuiper could potentially revolutionize connectivity, especially in remote areas and for businesses relying on vast amounts of data.
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