Amazon has built its 1,000th broadband satellite and says the service is just weeks away from launching. The company has been ramping up production, cutting the build time from 27 satellites over six months to 27 per week. However, the number of satellites in orbit remains at 396, which cost Amazon its priority spectrum in July. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will return the priority earlier if Amazon can prove it has built the necessary equipment and has closed the launches.
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Rajeev Badyal, who runs the program, led Starlink in its early years until Elon Musk fired him eight years ago due to slow progress. Badyal told Ars Technica that Amazon is weeks away from launching on a Vulcan rocket, with an Arianespace flight to follow and at least one more Vulcan launch this year.
Amazon took over a vacant 170,000-square-foot building in Kirkland, Washington, in December 2022 and converted it into a satellite factory in 15 months. The company builds its propulsion system in-house and has reimagined decades-old space tests using methods from consumer electronics, reducing checks that used to take weeks to hours. It is now the world’s second-largest satellite manufacturer, behind SpaceX.
Amazon's first generation of satellites needs 3,232 satellites to complete. However, the Vulcan rocket has been grounded due to a nozzle defect, and a Blue Origin New Glenn exploded on its pad in May, despite about 100 launches locked in with four providers.
Amazon was required to have 1,616 satellites in orbit by July 30 and requested a two-year extension in January, citing a lack of launch vehicles. The regulator waived the deadline but removed priority for spectrum in the Ka and Ku bands from anything launched after that, meaning those satellites must avoid interfering with Starlink.
The FCC said it would restore the priority by October 2027 if Amazon can prove it has built the necessary equipment and secured launch schedules. A thousand completed satellites and two Vulcans standing upright is the argument being made publicly. A second generation has already been filed and is in the planning stages.
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Ariane 6 is among the rockets Amazon has contracted, and Vodafone and Vodacom have been beta customers across Europe and Africa since April. The Commission plans to reserve two-thirds of the 2 GHz mobile-satellite band for European operators. IRIS2, signed in August, will not have a customer until 2030.
Amazon's entry into the satellite communications market is a significant development for the global telecommunications market. The ability to provide broadband connectivity via satellites could revolutionize internet access, particularly in remote or underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent. Amazon, with its enormous financial power and technological expertise, is in a position to compete strongly with other players in the market, such as SpaceX with Starlink.
The technological advancements that Amazon is making in satellite production are remarkable. Using methods from consumer electronics to repurpose space testing not only reduces costs but also significantly speeds up production time. This innovative production model could become a model for other companies in the space technology sector.
However, delays in satellite launches and technical problems with the rockets are challenges that Amazon must overcome to achieve its goals. The loss of spectrum priority is also a significant obstacle, as the ability to use specific frequencies is critical for the effective operation of satellite networks.
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Amazon's success in this endeavor will have significant implications for consumers and businesses worldwide. Increased access to fast, reliable internet can boost economic growth, improve education and healthcare in remote areas, and drive innovation across a range of sectors. Amazon, with its entry into the satellite communications market, seeks to play a central role in this technological revolution.
