Amazon plans launch of 3236 satellites to offer internet from space

Project Kuiper is a long-term project that visualizes provision of access to broadband internet to the people who lack basic amenities of connection.

U.S. tech-giant Amazon has been reported to be preparing to launch a network of more than 3000 satellites to offer global internet access. The reports had been revealed through a federal filing by the company.

Project Kuiper, as it is named, is reportedly the latest space ambition of the firm’s founder, Jeff Bezos. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the project is an initiative for launching a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites which will supply low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to numerous underserved and unserved communities across the world.

It was added that Project Kuiper is a long-term project that visualizes provision of access to broadband internet to the people who lack basic amenities of connection.

Amazon has proposed a network of 3,236 satellites. Sources close to the matter claim that building, launching and operation of satellites will need a capital of billions of dollars. However, it is well-known that Amazon is one of the world’s most valuable companies and Bezos has already been providing funds to Blue Origin of more than $1 billion per year.

For the record, Kuiper is a belt of asteroids and dwarf planets, and has been named after Gerard Kuiper, Dutch American astronomer.

Although the recently disclosed federal filings do not talk about the total cost or timeline of Amazon’s project, as per the estimates given by industry analysts, Project Kuiper would take at least a decade to record any level of success. According to them, numerous companies attempted and failed while trying to launch a successful space-based internet project.

Amazon has declared the basics of the project in three regulatory filings with International Telecommunications Union. The document describes spacecraft will orbit in three layers having 784 satellites at 367 miles, 1296 at 379 miles and 1156 at 391 miles.

If the project succeeds, Amazon is expected to receive a massive payoff.