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What is Amazon Leo, the e-commerce giant’s rival to Starlink?

Amazon has secured more than 80 launch contracts, the largest commercial launch procurement in history.

Amazon also operates a satellite processing center at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supporting launches with partners including Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance. (Image: Amazon)

Project Kuiper is now officially known as Amazon Leo, following multiple successful satellite launches this year. The new name references Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)—orbits up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometres) above Earth—where Amazon’s 153 satellites currently operate. The former codename, Kuiper, alluded to the Kuiper Belt, the asteroid belt beyond Neptune.

Amazon Leo’s mission is to deliver reliable internet access to underserved communities across many countries, including remote and hard-to-reach regions. Connectivity issues persist even near major cities, where traditional broadband is limited by factors like cost, terrain, and infrastructure. While satellite internet helps fill these gaps, it requires substantial technological innovation and investment. Leveraging its scale and expertise, Amazon aims to help close the global digital divide.

Amazon Leo is part of Amazon’s Devices and Services division—which includes products like the Kindle and Echo—and operates independently from Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s separate aerospace company. The project is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, with a satellite production facility in nearby Kirkland capable of manufacturing up to five satellites per day. Amazon also operates a satellite processing center at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supporting launches with partners including Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance.

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The Amazon Leo system consists of three core components: ground infrastructure, satellites, and customer terminals. Ground infrastructure includes gateway antennas for secure data transmission and TT&C (telemetry, tracking, and control) antennas that oversee satellite health and operations. These systems link to the internet or private networks to provide wide-area global coverage.

Satellites in low Earth orbit relay data between users and gateway antennas. Customer terminals—Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra—deliver connectivity to end users. Amazon plans to deploy more than 3,000 satellites in its initial constellation, with coordinated movements designed to ensure consistent, reliable broadband coverage.

Amazon Leo satellites will operate between 590 and 630 kilometres above Earth. By flying closer to the surface than traditional satellites, they offer reduced latency, enabling smoother videoconferencing, online gaming, and high-definition streaming—even in areas lacking conventional internet infrastructure.

Amazon has secured more than 80 launch contracts, the largest commercial launch procurement in history. Safety and sustainability are key priorities, influencing satellite design and Amazon’s collaborations with scientists and space operators.

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To meet a range of customer needs, Amazon will offer several user terminals:

Leo Nano: up to 100 Mbps

Leo Pro: up to 400 Mbps

Leo Ultra: up to 1 Gbps

Amazon Leo expects to begin serving select enterprise customers by late 2025, with broader availability planned for 2026 as additional satellites expand network coverage and capacity.

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