Amazon Plans Launch of 5,105 Satellites for Its Direct-to-Device Connectivity Initiative

Although SpaceX has already launched thousands of satellites into orbit, Amazon is determined to move forward with its own satellite network initiative. The company’s offshoot, Amazon Leo, submitted a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy as many as 5,105 satellites aimed at providing direct service to mobile devices.

According to the information shared in a recent announcement, Amazon Leo intends to begin its satellite deployment in low Earth orbit starting in 2028. The application with the FCC aims to develop a satellite network that can offer voice, messaging, data, and emergency services connectivity to smartphones and other mobile devices that lie beyond the reach of conventional cellular networks. While Amazon Leo plans to launch a large number of satellites, its current accomplishments include more than 390 satellites within its first-generation broadband setup. The company is set to introduce “fixed service” later this year and has already formed alliances with various telecom companies, including Vodafone, DirecTV, Herotel, and Australia’s National Broadband Network.

In this race, Amazon Leo will face stiff competition from SpaceX, which recently filed its own FCC application to deploy a constellation featuring up to a million satellites. The two corporations have already clashed in this arena, with Amazon urging the FCC to reject SpaceX’s proposal, labeling it as an “unrealistic ambition.” However, Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, has advised Amazon to concentrate on its own satellite initiatives rather than challenge competing enterprises.