Amazon Takes on Starlink With 'Project Kuiper' Satellite Network

Starlink may have dominated the satellite internet scene for the past half-decade, but Amazon is determined to steal some of its spotlight. On Monday, the brand launched 27 satellites via United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket, kicking off Project Kuiper, an initiative aimed at bringing "fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world."

Amazon first announced Project Kuiper in 2019. The initiative was an obvious jab at Starlink even then, but some details were different: The satellites were supposed to launch in 2022 on a small RS1 rocket made by ABL Space Systems (now Long Wall). Now, the brand says it will place more than 3,200 Project Kuiper satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) by 2029 via Arianespace, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance launches.

In a promotional video, Amazon paints Project Kuiper as a helping hand for small businesses in tiny towns like ...