Highlights:

  • Recently, Amazon.com, Inc. announced three antenna modules that would allow customers to connect to its Project Kuiper satellite network.
  • Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to place thousands of broadband satellites in low-Earth orbit. Once operational, the network will be able to provide wireless Internet access to places with insufficient terrestrial Internet infrastructure.

Recently, Amazon.com, Inc. announced three antenna modules allowing customers to connect to its Project Kuiper satellite network.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to place thousands of broadband satellites in low-Earth orbit. Once operational, the network can provide wireless internet access to places with insufficient terrestrial internet infrastructure. Amazon has indicated it will invest over USD 10 billion in the program.

Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology for Project Kuiper, said, “Our goal with Project Kuiper is not just to connect unserved and underserved communities but also to delight them with the quality, reliability, and value of their service. From day one, every technology and business decision we’ve made has centered on what will deliver the best experience for different customers worldwide, and our range of customer terminals reflects those choices.”

Consumer devices such as mobile phones cannot directly connect to internet satellites. They must transmit data traffic to a specific antenna, which subsequently transmits the data into space. Amazon’s new antenna modules or consumer terminals address this need.

Amazon’s engineers have constructed three consumer terminals connecting to Project Kuiper satellites. According to the business, all three gadgets are powered by a chip codenamed Prometheus that was built in-house. A version of Prometheus will be placed in Project Kuiper satellites to aid with data traffic processing.

The entry-level Amazon customer terminal is a portable, rectangular gadget with a seven-square-inch surface area. With a specific mount, it may be mounted on rooftops. According to Amazon, the gadget would give up to 100 Mbps bandwidth.

According to the business, its entry-level client terminal serves many use cases. According to Amazon, the antenna would let users receive Project Kuiper internet services at an accessible price. In turn, businesses may utilize the antenna to give internet connectivity to remote devices.

The second client terminal of Amazon is designed for household and small-business customers. It delivers a bandwidth of up to 400 megabits per second, or four times that of the primary antenna. Amazon reported that the device is manufactured for less than USD 400.

The most technologically advanced of the three customer terminals described by the corporation is also the largest. It measures 19 by 30 inches and supports 1 gigabit per second connection speeds. The gadget is intended for businesses, public sector agencies, and telecommunications carriers.

At a recent satellite event held in Washington, D.C., Amazon officials also delivered an update about the Project Kuiper internet constellation.

Amazon aims to mass-produce Project Kuiper satellites by the end of the year. In Kirkland, Washington, a production facility the business is constructing will be used for manufacturing. In the latter half of 2024, the first production-ready satellites will begin offering internet services to early consumers.