Amazon Joins the Internet Space Race with the launch of Project Kuipe
The new program will provide broadband internet service to underserved communities around the globe.
By Casey Bacot for COMM-200 at American University
Key Points:
Amazon plans to launch 3,236 satellites into space in the future.
The company’s efforts will allow millions of Americans access to internet service
This project will allow Amazon to gain more power in the internet race
Amazon announced that by the end of next year, its ABL Space Systems will deliver two prototype satellites in an effort to build a low-Earth orbit, or LEO, satellite constellation. This LEO will provide fast and affordable internet connectivity to areas of the world that are currently underserved. This is just the beginning of what is known as Project Kuiper. Amazon is estimated to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites in the future.
Project Kuiper’s Infrastructure
Amazon is literally starting from the ground up when it comes to achieving fast and accessible internet service. The company has completed six ground stations that use fiber optic cables to send data up to the satellites and back down to customers. The company claims that the connection speeds are 400 Mbps, much faster than the current average broadband speeds in the U.S.
What makes Project Kuiper different from other internet services is that Amazon had the resources to produce the necessary infrastructure to succeed. Creating these ground stations allows Amazon to better connect data centers on Earth which will eliminate any need for wiring throughout difficult terrains such as mountains or oceans.
The company is able to produce these ground stations and the RS1 rockets through the help of ABL Space Systems, a company that has seen nothing but positive growth over the past few years.
Amazon’s Gains
While one of Project Kuiper’s goals is to help Americans without internet access, it cannot be ignored that the tech giant will have capitalistic gains of its own. Amazon has recently developed a cloud computing business called Amazon Web Services. The company has said that the satellites will work with AWS to deliver LTE and 5G to currently unreachable locations. The joint venture between AWS and ABL Space Systems will almost guarantee Project Kuiper’s success.
“Amazon is, essentially, effectively going to be its own biggest customer to really prime the pump for the revenue stream.” -Babak Beheshti, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at the New York Institute of Technology
Worry regarding one of the most powerful companies in the world gaining even more dominance over the internet may be daunting, but it may actually prove to be a positive gain in the world of internet monopolization. Amazon is not alone in this satellite endeavor with companies such as SpaceX and OneWeb launching hundreds of satellites into space in the past few years. Mark Buell, the North American regional vice president for the Internet Society makes the claim that “Increasing competition in the market over the next few years is likely to drive innovation that will lead to an increase in the quality of service and, ideally, more affordable prices.”
Helping Communities in Need
According to the Federal Communications Commission, at least 21 million Americans do not have access to quality broadband internet, restricting access to educational tools, telemedicine, and other modern applications that are a necessity to millions of people. Project Kuiper will allow many of those individuals without internet access to services for a much lower price than what other companies are offering.
