Amazon has some grand plans for the future of broadband internet. We’re talking satellites, 3326, to be precise. Amazon is calling this crazy enterprise, Project Kuiper, named after an asteroid belt beyond Neptune’s orbit.
An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC that this project “will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world”. While all of this sounds super exciting and unravels like a page out of a Sci-fi novel, this project is going to take quite a while to get its feet off the ground.
Amazon sees Project Kuiper as a long term project and is sure to face tough competition from the likes of SpaceX and OneWeb. In fact, SpaceX already has two prototypes in orbit and OneWeb, backed by Softbank, already has six. Amazon hasn’t established any timelines yet, but it looks like it could be a couple of years till we could actually get our internet from space.
The satellites will be deployed at three different altitudes of the low-earth orbit. The constellation will be situated between the 56th parallel north and the 56th parallel south. 95% of the world’s population lives in this belt. As for the remaining 5%, we hope Amazon finds a way to help you guys out too.
Note: Featured image is a VFX enhanced Earth view from the International Space Station (credit: NASA).
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