Amazon Gets FCC Approval for 4,500 Low-Earth Orbit Internet Satellites
The Federal Communications Commission granted Amazon’s proposal to deploy 4,500 satellites, increasing its projected constellation and compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The FCC’s approval expands Amazon’s planned constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to roughly 7,700 satellites.
Since April, the business has launched over 150 satellites utilizing several rocket launch providers. Amazon has stated that it intends to launch Leo, a satellite internet service later this year. The project was announced in 2019.
According to the notice, Amazon’s next set of satellites will be the company’s second generation of orbital systems, operating at altitudes of up to 400 miles. The new satellites would provide support for more frequency bands and expand Leo’s geographic coverage.
The FCC stated that Amazon must launch 50% of the approved satellites by February 10, 2032, and the remaining half by February 10, 2035.
Amazon is working to achieve the FCC’s separate deadline of deploying 1,600 of its first-generation satellites by July 2026. Late last month, the business asked the EPA to extend the deadline until July 2028 or to waive it altogether. The FCC has not yet ruled on the request.
The corporation blamed delays beyond its control, such as a near-term scarcity of rockets to lift the satellites into orbit, for its likely failure to fulfill the deadline.
Leo is “producing satellites considerably faster than others can launch them,” according to the business.
The business has invested $10 billion to launch its internet-from-space service. Leo is prepared to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has more than 9,000 satellites in space and around 9 million users.
Amazon aims to spend $1 billion more on its Leo constellation this year as it deploys more satellites, according to its most recent quarterly report, released last week. Amazon’s finance head, Brian Olsavsky, stated that the business plans more than 20 launches in 2026 and more than 30 in 2027.
The next Leo mission is scheduled for Thursday, when an Arianespace rocket will launch an additional 32 satellites into orbit. Amazon has scheduled 17 additional missions with the French business.
