Amazon has rebranded its Project Kuiper satellite programme as ‘Amazon Leo’ as it moves towards transitioning its low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation from development to commercial rollout, raising the prospect of new connectivity options for maritime operators.
The network has more than 150 satellites currently in orbit following six launches, with Amazon reporting that it has built one of the world’s largest satellite production lines and developed phased-array customer terminals capable of supporting gigabit speeds.
The company expects to expand coverage as additional satellites are launched, with more than 80 missions planned to complete the initial constellation. Early commercial partners include airlines, government contractors and national broadband operators, with maritime use cases expected to follow as service availability widens.
Amazon says that once full coverage is established for Leo, service rollout will begin in phases as additional capacity is added.
