Project Kuiper is what its satellite internet constellation service and its answer to SpaceX's Starlink, and here are six key things to know about it. Satellite internet service isn't actually new, as there were a handful of providers back in the 90s, like Celestron, Iridium, and Globalstar. But they didn't provide a service on the scale as services like Starlink. They also had very few satellites.
Echo Dot and the Fire TV Stick, Amazon's Project Kuiper should be affordable as well.
6 What Is Project Kuiper?
Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and, like Starlink, will provide broadband internet service to places where there is poor or no internet connectivity. Development started in 2018, and the FCC granted Amazon a license in 2020 to deploy and operate Project Kuiper satellites. The name “Project Kuiper” was originally an internal codename, but it appears Amazon is sticking to it as the final name.
The name comes from the Kuiper Belt, which is a donut-shaped ring of icy objects around the sun that is similar to the asteroid belt but is several times larger. While Project Kuiper requires satellites to work, it isn't a part of Blue Origin, the aerospace company that was also founded by Jeff Bezos. The service is part of the Devices and Services division that handles Echo, Fire TV, Eero, and Ring devices.
5 How Project Kuiper Works
Project Kuiper is a satellite internet constellation service that requires thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to work. The service is designed to include 3,236 satellites, although the number will likely increase if and when Amazon wants to improve and extend coverage. However, satellites are only one of three parts of the equation. Ground infrastructure, which includes gateway terminals that securely transmit and receive data from and to the satellites, is also a necessary part.
The third is the customer terminal, which is an outdoor antenna. This is the device that communicates with the satellites ing above. Amazon will offer three types of customer terminals that offer varying speeds and have differing costs. They will be powered by a custom chip codenamed “Prometheus” that is designed by Amazon. The chip will have a similar processing power to a 5G modem found in smartphones. Prometheus will also be used in Project Kuiper's satellites and ground gateway antennas, with the capability to process up to 1 terabit per second of traffic.
4 Who Can Use Project Kuiper?
Project Kuiper can be used by individuals, households, businesses, government agencies, schools, and hospitals. Since there will be three customer terminals available, customers will be able to choose which of them best suits their needs. The cheapest will be a portable and compact terminal that has a 7-inch square design and weighs just 1 lb. There will also be a standard terminal designed for households and small businesses. It will be 11 inches in size, have a thickness of 1 inch, and weigh under 5 lbs. The largest terminal will measure 19 × 30 inches and is designed for enterprise s, government agencies, and telecommunications applications.
3 How Fast Is Project Kuiper?
Project Kuiper will offer different speeds based on the terminal in use. The portable terminal will provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps, while the standard terminal will provide speeds of up to 400 Mbps. The largest terminal will deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
2 When Will Project Kuiper Launch?
There is still a bit of a wait before Project Kuiper begins commercial operations. Mass production of its satellites is expected to begin by the end of 2023. But the company will launch two prototype satellites via the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is scheduled for flight on May 4. The first batch of mass-produced satellites will launch in the first half of next year and the first set of customers are expected to get access to the service by the end of 2024.
In addition, Amazon says the FCC license mandates that at least half of its satellite constellation be deployed by July 2026. The service is expected to begin a wider rollout in 2025, with Amazon intending to deploy the service to several countries.
1 How Much Does Project Kuiper Cost?
Pricing details for the customer terminals and service plans are currently unavailable, which isn't surprising since the service is yet to begin. However, the standard terminal is expected to be produced for less than $400 each and should give potential customers an idea of how much the hardware will cost. Amazon also didn't reveal if Project Kuiper terminals will be bundled with a router like Starlink does or if it will be compatible with existing routers.