Amazon's satellite internet venture, previously known as Project Kuiper, has officially rebranded to Amazon Leo. The name change signals a shift from the project's research and development phase towards commercial operations, as the company gears up to launch its satellite internet service. The new moniker, "Amazon Leo," is a nod to the low Earth orbit (LEO) where its constellation of satellites will operate.
The initiative, which began seven years ago, aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved communities and businesses worldwide. Amazon envisions bridging the digital divide by extending reliable connectivity to areas beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial networks.
Amazon Leo plans to deploy over 3,000 satellites in LEO, operating at altitudes between 590 and 630 kilometers. These satellites will communicate with a network of gateway stations, fiber optic cables, and internet connection points on the ground. The company has already launched more than 150 satellites into orbit as of November 2025 and is continuing to expand its constellation.
To connect customers to the network, Amazon Leo will offer three types of compact, high-performance antennas: Leo Nano, Leo Pro, and Leo Ultra. These antennas will support varying bandwidths, with the Leo Nano offering speeds up to 100 Mbps, the Leo Pro up to 400 Mbps, and the Leo Ultra, designed for enterprise use, targeting up to 1 Gbps.
Amazon Leo is targeting an initial service launch for select enterprise customers by the end of 2025, with broader availability planned for 2026. The company is working with partners across various industries, including DirecTV, Sky Brazil, L3Harris, and JetBlue, to integrate its satellite internet service. Amazon has also signed an agreement with NBN Co. to deliver wholesale fixed broadband to customers in regional, rural, and remote parts of Australia, aiming to launch the service in mid-2026.
The company faces significant competition from SpaceX's Starlink, which already has a substantial lead in the LEO satellite internet market. Starlink has over 2 million active customers and has expanded to more than 150 markets globally. However, Amazon Leo aims to differentiate itself through tight integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and enterprise networking.
Amazon has secured contracts for over 80 launches with Arianespace, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance (ULA). These agreements comprise the largest commercial procurement of launch capacity in history.
Amazon's primary satellite manufacturing facility is located in Kirkland, Washington, with some components produced at its headquarters in Redmond. The company also has a payload processing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where satellites are prepared for launch.
With the rebrand to Amazon Leo, the company is signaling its commitment to becoming a major player in the LEO satellite internet market. While Starlink currently dominates the sector, Amazon's significant resources and expertise in cloud computing and global logistics could pose a serious challenge in the years to come. The company has launched a registration webpage for consumers interested in updates about the forthcoming broadband internet service.
