TLDRs;
- Amazon to roll out Kuiper satellite internet in U.S., Canada, UK, France, and Germany by Q1 2026.
- Over 3,200 satellites planned, coverage will expand globally by 2028, reaching up to 100 countries.
- JetBlue will be first airline to offer Kuiper-powered in-flight Wi-Fi, starting in 2027.
- Amazon leverages SpaceX rockets for launches, balancing rivalry and partnership to meet FCC deadlines.
Amazon is preparing to officially enter the satellite internet market, setting a Q1 2026 launch date for its long-awaited Project Kuiper.
The company revealed that its service will first roll out in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, before gradually expanding worldwide.
By the end of 2025, Amazon expects to have more than 200 Kuiper satellites in orbit. The larger plan calls for over 3,200 satellites to be deployed in low-Earth orbit, designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network. Amazon says this constellation will deliver reliable internet to underserved and remote areas across the globe.
Global Coverage Planned by 2028
Amazon’s expansion roadmap shows that Kuiper service will move beyond initial Western markets to regions closer to the equator by 2027. By 2028, the company aims to deliver global coverage spanning between 88 and 100 countries.
This ambitious target underscores Amazon’s determination to compete head-to-head with Starlink, which already dominates the sector with around 8,000 satellites in orbit.
JetBlue Airways has become the first airline to publicly announce it will integrate Kuiper for in-flight Wi-Fi. Passengers should be able to access Kuiper-powered internet starting in 2027, signaling Amazon’s intent to target not only households but also enterprise and commercial applications.
SpaceX Partnership Amid Fierce Competition
Interestingly, Amazon’s rivalry with SpaceX has not stopped the two giants from collaborating. In July 2025, Amazon launched 24 Kuiper satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket under mission KF-01, boosting its operational satellite count to 78.
This cooperation highlights the “coopetition” dynamic shaping the space industry, where competitors must sometimes rely on each other due to high costs and tight deadlines.
Amazon is under regulatory pressure from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which requires that half of Kuiper’s constellation be in orbit by July 2026. This deadline explains why Amazon has leaned on SpaceX for launch services, despite their fierce battle in the satellite internet market.
Building More Than Just Satellites
Project Kuiper is more than a standalone connectivity effort. Amazon is also developing supporting infrastructure through AWS Ground Station, a cloud-powered service that helps satellite operators manage and process data more efficiently.
By combining Kuiper’s broadband service with AWS cloud offerings, Amazon aims to create an integrated ecosystem, spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, and now global internet access.
Industry analysts note that this multi-layered approach could give Amazon a significant competitive advantage. By offering bundled services across its platforms, the company can target not just households without broadband but also governments, businesses, and enterprises requiring advanced satellite communications.
The Billion-Dollar Satellite Race
The broader satellite internet race represents a trillion-dollar global opportunity. With an estimated 37% of the world’s population still offline, equivalent to nearly 4 billion people, companies like Amazon, SpaceX, and others are rushing to capture this massive untapped market. In the U.S. alone, over 21 million people lack adequate broadband access, presenting Amazon with strong domestic potential.
Despite steep competition, industry projections estimate that the satellite internet market will grow at a compound annual rate of 6.7% between 2023 and 2031. Amazon’s Kuiper program, if successful, could become one of the company’s most important growth engines over the next decade.
