Amazon has already bought land in NZ for a ground station plus NZ radio spectrum licences for Project Kuiper and advertised for local staff.
Pricing has not yet been revealed, but Amazon has pledged it will align with its reputation as a low-cost retailer.
“Atlas V is on its way to orbit to take those 27 Kuiper satellites, put them on their way, and really start this new era in internet connectivity,” said ULA’s Caleb Weiss.
With today’s launch, Amazon formally enters a crowded and fast-growing field that includes not just Starlink but other emerging players in the satellite internet race.
SpaceX launched the first batch of Starlink satellites in 2019 and now boasts more than 6750 operational units, serving more than five million customers worldwide – by far the sector’s dominant force.
Starlink has also provided crucial internet access in disaster and war zones, including Morocco after its devastating 2023 earthquake and on the frontlines in Ukraine’s war against Russia.
Amazon plans to accelerate launches in the coming months and years, with more than 80 flights booked through United Launch Alliance (a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture), France’s Arianespace, Bezos’ own Blue Origin and even Musk’s SpaceX.
Its satellites will gradually join the swelling ranks in low Earth orbit, alongside Starlink, Europe’s OneWeb and China’s Guowang constellation.The increasing crowding of this orbital neighbourhood has sparked concerns about congestion, potential collisions and disruptions to astronomical observations.
The expanding role of private companies in space has also raised thorny political questions, especially as Musk’s influence stretches beyond business into politics and diplomacy.
Musk has sent mixed signals on Starlink’s future role in Ukraine, where it remains vital to Kyiv’s war effort – a conflict that Musk ally US President Donald Trump has vowed to bring to an end.
– Agence France-Presse. With reporting by Herald staff
