It may be some way behind Starlink in deployment terms, but Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite initiative has been making headway both in terms of launches and regulatory approvals in recent weeks.
Launch services specialist United Launch Alliance (ULA) reports that a ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off this week from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the US.
This mission delivers the second batch of operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, marking the next step in what ULA calls an initiative to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities.
There are six remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38 high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.
This hasn’t been the only good news for Amazon in the past week. Last Wednesday Brazilian regulator Anatel published a series of satellite-related decisions including the extension of the deadline for the start of operation of Amazon's Kuiper system, and authorisations for Amazon to carry out temporary tests in the country in two towns: Cosmopolis in the southeast and Gloria de Dourados in the midwest.
Rival service Starlink is, of course, already up and running in a number of countries. Lesotho recently become the latest African nation (the number now exceeds 20) to welcome the satellite internet service, following the approval of a 10-year operating license by the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA). In the past few days, meanwhile, Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar has reportedly secured regulatory approval to begin testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) services.
