Amazon’s internet is (almost) ready for liftoff

TL;DR: The race to bring you internet from space is about to take off. Amazon is gearing up to launch its commercial satellite internet service by the end of the year, wading into territory long held by SpaceX’s Starlink network. It could mean better wi-fi on planes and cheaper prices for everyone.

What happened: Amazon has built its 1,000th satellite for its Amazon Leo project (formerly Project Kuiper)—the internet service it’s spent seven years trying to get off the ground—and it’s reportedly just weeks away from a rollout.

The project hasn’t come without struggles, though. Leo was supposed to launch by mid-2026, according to CEO Andy Jassy. But a shortage of rockets left Amazon behind on an FCC deadline to have half its planned network in orbit by July. (A rocket that exploded on the launchpad in May didn’t help.) The FCC granted an extension but docked the company for the delay: Satellites launched after the deadline temporarily lose priority access to the airwaves (frequencies that wireless signals travel on).

Signal boost: This new space race could pay off most for two groups: frequent flyers and people in rural areas who have fewer broadband options. Airlines like Delta and JetBlue have already signed up to use Leo for in-flight wi-fi. (Just maybe save the family video call for after you get off the plane: The penalty might surprise you.) Amazon has also promised download speeds of up to 1 Gbps, roughly double that of Starlink’s top home plan.

Turf wars: SpaceX isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat. When Amazon asked the FCC for the extension in January, SpaceX pushed regulators to refuse and called the request “gamesmanship.” (Amazon has filed objections to SpaceX’s plans too, to be fair.)

Now, with a rival on the way, the company is diversifying its portfolio and branching out into the traditional telecom business—it reportedly agreed to pay about $8 billion for cellular spectrum licenses. This means it’s gearing up to use old-school cell towers, moving SpaceX onto AT&T and Verizon’s home turf.

Bottom line: More deep-pocketed companies fighting over your internet and phone bills could mean better service and lower prices. —LC