Amazon gets nod to launch thousands more broadband satellites

Key takeaways

The FCC approved Amazon’s request to launch an additional 4,500 low Earth orbit satellites
This will expand Amazon Leo’s constellation to about 7,700 satellites
Amazon Leo will directly compete with Starlink’s low Earth orbit network
Amazon is still facing a summer deadline to launch half of its Gen 1 constellation

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite internet network, to launch over 4,500 additional satellites. This will eventually expand Amazon Leo’s constellation to over 7,700 satellites to deliver high-speed satellite internet to consumer and enterprise customers.

The FCC’s Feb. 10 authorization approved the launch of:

3,212 Gen 2 satellites
1,292 Polar System satellites

This is in addition to the 3,212 Gen 1 satellites for which Amazon has already been approved and is now deploying.

Amazon has launched 200+ satellites since April 2025, with its most recent launch successfully deploying 32 satellites on Feb. 12, 2026, aboard an Arianespace Ariane 64 rocket.

Amazon Leo launch timeline

Amazon Leo is held to various FCC launch deadlines throughout the next decade, some of which are fast approaching.

Gen 1 satellites

Amazon must launch half of its 3,212 Gen 1 constellation (roughly 1,600 satellites) by July 30, 2026
The second half is required by July 30, 2029
Amazon has requested that the FCC extend this first deadline to July 2028 or waive it entirely due to limited launch capacity

Gen 2 satellites

Amazon must launch half of the most recently approved Gen 2 and Polar satellites (roughly 2,200) by Feb. 10, 2032
The second half is required by Feb. 10, 2035

Amazon Leo positioned to rival Starlink

Since its 2019 announcement, Amazon Leo has generated its fair share of industry buzz. Starlink’s rapid rise has left traditional satellite providers like Hughesnet struggling to stay afloat, so the news of another low Earth orbit satellite network competing with Starlink has been highly anticipated.

But despite Amazon Leo’s latest developments, it still has a long way to go until it can catch up with Starlink’s almost 10,000-strong satellite constellation and 10 million global subscriber count.

Amazon hasn’t revealed the pricing or speed tiers for its upcoming internet service, but we can expect Leo to remain competitive with Starlink, which offers residential plans starting at $50.00/mo.