The US FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has agreed to Amazon’s demand for running a fleet of approximately 3200 network satellites that operate in the low-Earth orbit.
The FCC told Amazon to hasten this project to deploy about half of the satellites in this project before 2026. This move will ensure that they fulfill part of the project whose completion must not exceed 2029 for the full constellation in the low-Earth orbit.
Amazon revealed that it would be cashing in $10 billion in Kuiper to facilitate the deployment of these internet satellites. However, Amazon is still developing the deployment plan of the Kuiper project’s satellites. Amazon stated that it intends to launch the spacecraft in five consecutive sets with the first set of 578 satellites to the low-Earth orbit.
FCC explained that the Kuiper satellite system would improve the internet services for the hypersonic broadband for the customers, the government, and commercial businesses.
For this project to proceed, Amazon must give a detailed debris handling plan once the Kuiper satellite development is complete. Amazon will run the Kuiper project in three foldings with one at 590 kilometers, the other at 610 kilometers, and the final one at 630 kilometers.
The chair of FCC Ajit Pai reiterated his plan to launch the constellation with the Kuiper project. He tweeted earlier that this project will avail high-speed internet connectivity for Americans and the world at large.
Dave Limp, the Vice President of Amazon, is thankful to Pai for his agency’s unanimous support for the Kuiper project. Amazon is the latest addition to the firms that facilitate the deployment of high-speed internet satellites. These firms include SpaceX, Viasat, Telesat, and OneWeb.
Limp explains that the Kuiper project will facilitate hypersonic internet connectivity to places where there is none. Kuiper will alter the US landscape and create new jobs for its citizens in this $10 billion project. Amazon hopes that this project will expand the 4G and 5G internet connectivity to places where this network connection is yet to reach.
The lead technologist of the Kuiper project, Rajeev Badyal, noted that Amazon is working to avail internet connectivity at an affordable price. Experts think that this project depends on the accessibility of cheap mass-developed antennas. Amazon is creating an R&D facility for this Kuiper project in Redmond.
Finally, Amazon has another comparable project whose purpose is to sell cloud services in the satellite industry. The founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos said that his other firm Blue Origin would be reaching out for the Kuiper contracts. Blue Origin is also championing for additional agreements with SpaceX through its New Glenn rocket facility. The success of these projects will facilitate the layout of this firm in the space industry roadmap.
