Getty Images | Chinese Yuichiro
Amazon received approval from the United States to launch 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit for its planned “Project Kuiper” broadband service.
An order from the Federal Communications Commission granting Amazon’s request was issued Thursday. Amazon said in a blog post that it will invest more than $ 10 billion in the project.
“This investment will create jobs and infrastructure across the United States, build and scale our terrestrial network, accelerate testing and manufacturing of satellites, and enable us to offer an affordable customer terminal that will make fast and reliable broadband accessible to communities around the world, “said Amazon. said. Amazon will target areas without good internet service, saying “The Kuiper Project will offer high-speed, low-latency broadband service to locations beyond the reach of traditional fiber or wireless networks.”
The planned satellites would orbit at altitudes of 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km, allowing much lower latencies than traditional satellite services using geosynchronous orbits of more than 35,000 km. It is similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, but SpaceX is much more advanced as it has launched some 600 satellites and is preparing to begin beta testing with customers.
Service will begin once 578 satellites are launched
FCC rules give Amazon six years to launch and operate 50 percent of licensed satellites, with a deadline of July 30, 2026. Amazon would have to launch the rest of the licensed satellites before June 30. July 2029.
Amazon plans to offer broadband to customers “once the first 578 satellites are launched,” the FCC said. Amazon has not said when the service will be available to customers.
The FCC approval said Amazon’s plan “would provide[e] Continuous coverage for customers within approximately 56 ° N and 56 ° S latitude, thus serving the contiguous United States, Hawaii, US territories, and other regions of the world. “The plan requires the use of frequencies of 17.7- 18.6 GHz and 18.8-20.2 GHz for space-to-ground communications, and 27.5-30.0 GHz for Earth-to-space transmissions. The FCC said it licensed because it “would increase public interest by authorizing a system designed to increase the availability of band service high-speed broadband to consumers, government, and businesses. “
Amazon filed the FCC request in July 2019; More details on the Amazon plan are available in our app story.
FCC approval includes requirements to minimize orbital debris and risk of collision, prevention of harmful interference, spectrum exchange, and power limits. Amazon’s design of the Kuiper satellites is not complete, so the company will need another FCC approval after submitting a final plan for orbital debris mitigation, risk of collision, and “risk of re-entry casualties.” . FCC approval is also conditioned on Amazon obtaining a “favorable” rating from the International Telecommunication Union to demonstrate compliance with power limits.
In addition to SpaceX, Amazon’s Kuiper Project could face competition from OneWeb’s low-Earth satellites, which filed for bankruptcy in late March. On July 3, OneWeb agreed to sell the business to a consortium that includes the UK government and Bharti Global Limited. The UK government, which is investing $ 500 million, said: “The agreement will allow the company to complete the construction of a global satellite constellation that will provide improved broadband and other services to countries around the world.” OneWeb also has an investment from Hughes, which operates geosynchronous satellites.
