Amazon Successfully Tests Prototype Satellite For Kuiper Internet Network

Amazon.com announced that two prototype satellites for the Kuiper internet network have been successfully operational in orbit. (photo: dock.amazon)

JAKARTA - Amazon.com announced on Thursday November 16 that two prototype satellites for its Kuiper internet network have been successfully operational in orbit. The project is planned to start launching operational satellites by mid-2024.

The Kuiper internet network is designed to compete with billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, the world's largest satellite operator, to offer broadband internet services globally to consumers, companies and governments.

Amazon says it has reached 100% success level in the first 30 days of launching a prototype satellite from Florida on the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5. Amazon says it uses prototype satellites for short two-way video calls, high-definition film streaming on Prime Video, and books goods from Amazon websites.

"We still have a lot of difficult work ahead, and the scale for mass production will not be easy," said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology for Project Kuiper.

According to Baydal, at the same time as a successful prototype test, Amazon plans to begin construction of a satellite ready for production next month for launch in the second quarter of 2024. Badyal declined to say how many satellites Amazon will launch each rocket.

Badyal said he expects the network to be able to provide broadband coverage in parts of the world by the end of 2024, for the early beta phase scheduled to begin in early 2025.

Initial partners such as Vodafone and Verizon are scheduled to be the first telecommunications companies to test the service in the beta phase.

Last year, Amazon announced a mass launch deal for 83 launches - the largest commercial rocket procurement of all time - from various rocket companies, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, ULA, and Arianespace in Europe.

Joint venture Boeing-Lockheed, United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the first few groups of Kuiper satellites using Atlas 5 rockets.