Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has announced that the company’s satellite internet service, Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper), is now slated to launch in mid-2026.
Jassy stated that an "enterprise preview" is expected to begin by the end of 2025. This means that, following the delay to the original launch schedule, mid-2026 will serve as the milestone for the service's full commercial rollout.
Deployment Progress and Launch Capacity Bottlenecks
Unlike SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon has not yet established its own fleet of rockets to regularly deliver Leo satellites into low Earth orbit. Until the New Glenn reusable rocket, developed by Jeff Bezos, is fully operational, Amazon must rely on third-party partners, including SpaceX, for satellite launches.
This lack of launch capacity is directly causing delays in satellite deployment. While Amazon has received FCC approval to deploy 3,236 Leo satellites, only 241 have been launched so far.
The current deployment scale is far below the company's original commitments. Amazon had planned to complete half of its deployment (1,618 satellites) by July 2026, but due to slower-than-expected progress, the company has applied for an extension from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.
In terms of the competitive landscape, Amazon is facing massive scaling pressure. SpaceX’s Starlink network currently has over 10,000 satellites in orbit, far outstripping Amazon's current orbital footprint.
Jassy emphasized that once the Leo service is live, it will offer the advantages of faster speeds and lower costs. He specifically noted that the service will feature seamless integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling enterprises and governments to efficiently handle data storage, analysis, and AI computations via satellite links.
For many organizations and nations seeking an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink, the launch of Leo provides a new option, even as its deployment progress faces significant challenges.
