The FCC has granted Amazon a waiver to extend the deadline for its Kuiper satellite broadband constellation, removing a requirement that would have forced the company to launch half of its planned 3,236 satellites by 2026. This decision supports competition in the satellite internet market, currently dominated by SpaceX's Starlink. The move gives Amazon more flexibility in its deployment schedule while still requiring the full constellation to be operational by 2029.
Background
Amazon's Project Kuiper is a planned constellation of 3,236 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to provide global broadband internet service, competing with SpaceX's Starlink and other satellite internet providers. The FCC had previously set a 2026 deadline for half the constellation to be launched, which Amazon argued was too restrictive given launch vehicle availability and other factors.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jun 9, 2026 at 08:59 AM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10