Project Kuiper: Amazon satellite internet could begin in 5 countries by early 2026

Amazon is preparing to roll out its long-awaited satellite internet service, Project Kuiper, with the company indicating that coverage could be available in the United States, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom by early 2026.

Speaking at the World Space Business Week event in Paris on September 15, Ricky Freeman, president of government solutions for Project Kuiper, suggested that Amazon was on track to launch commercial service in these first five markets by the end of the first quarter of that year, Bloomberg reported.

The announcement marks a pivotal milestone for Amazon as it positions itself against existing players such as Elon Musk’s Starlink. While Amazon had previously suggested that service would begin by late 2025, it had not specified which regions would receive coverage first.

More from Tech

‘Block Everything’: A hashtag that turned into Macron's big political crisis How ‘Block Everything’ protests have added to French President Macron’s woes

Building a global constellation

Freeman stated that more than 200 satellites were expected to be in low-Earth orbit (LEO) by the end of 2025, forming the backbone of the initial rollout. Amazon’s long-term ambition, however, extends much further. The company intends to deploy a constellation of over 3,200 satellites designed to provide broadband connectivity across the globe.

Plans outlined by Freeman included expanding service to more southern latitudes by late 2026, eventually covering up to 26 countries. The constellation would then extend to equatorial regions by 2027, before achieving near-global coverage—including the polar regions—between 2028 and 2029. At that point, Amazon is expected to continue launching additional satellites beyond the initially approved fleet.

Addressing the digital divide

Project Kuiper was conceived as a response to the persistent digital divide. Billions of people worldwide still lack access to reliable internet, limiting opportunities in education, healthcare and economic participation. Amazon has positioned Kuiper as a means of bridging that gap by serving not only households but also schools, hospitals, businesses and government agencies in underserved or remote areas.

Company representatives have often pointed out that connectivity challenges exist not only in developing countries but even in advanced economies. Amazon has noted that poor service can be found within an hour’s drive from its own Seattle headquarters reflecting how geography and infrastructure costs make traditional fibre or wireless rollouts impractical in many regions.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Meta gave millions to new AI project poaches, now it has a problem

How ChatGPT is becoming everyone’s BFF and why that’s dangerous

What’s fuelling Kuiper?

Amazon began research and development for Project Kuiper in 2018, securing US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval in 2020 to deploy and operate its satellite network. Unlike Blue Origin—Jeff Bezos’s rocket company—Kuiper is housed within Amazon’s Devices and Services division, which also produces Kindle, Echo and Fire TV products.

The project’s architecture consists of three main components: ground infrastructure, satellites and customer terminals. Ground stations, linked through Amazon’s global fibre network, act as gateways to the internet. Satellites in LEO then relay data between the gateways and end-users while compact customer terminals allow households or organisations to access the network.

Overcoming production and launch hurdles

The path to Kuiper’s deployment has not been without obstacles. Amazon has faced delays from its launch partners and has struggled to scale up production. Despite these challenges, the company has recently accelerated its progress, successfully deploying four batches of satellites in 2025 and preparing for additional launches later in the year, Bloomberg reported.

To meet its ambitious goals, Amazon has invested heavily in infrastructure. Its production facility in Kirkland, Washington, can manufacture up to five satellites per day, while its operations centre at Kennedy Space Center in Florida integrates satellites with rockets from providers including Blue Origin, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Arianespace. These agreements collectively represent one of the largest satellite launch commitments in history.

Are there any partners?

Amazon is already securing partnerships that highlight the commercial potential of Project Kuiper. Earlier this month, JetBlue Airways announced it would be the first airline to adopt Kuiper’s satellite network for in-flight Wi-Fi, with passenger access expected to begin in 2027. The deal reflects Kuiper’s versatility in serving not just households but also mobility-driven sectors such as aviation.

What’s beyond 2028?

Freeman’s comments in Paris suggested confidence in Kuiper’s trajectory, with Amazon anticipating full global coverage within the next three to four years. By 2028, the network is expected to span 88 to 100 countries, including polar regions that remain inaccessible to many current systems.

Industry observers see Kuiper’s timeline as aggressive but achievable, given Amazon’s resources and its willingness to invest billions of dollars into satellite production, launches and supporting ground infrastructure. However, competition from Starlink, which already operates thousands of satellites and serves millions of customers worldwide, will test Kuiper’s ability to carve out significant market share.

Amazon has not yet revealed details about pricing, though it has indicated that affordability will be central to its approach. The company has drawn parallels with its strategy for consumer electronics such as the Echo Dot, suggesting that it may adopt a low-cost, high-volume model tailored to local market conditions.