Amazon’s Starlink rival, Challenge Kuiper, is shifting nearer to liftoff. The corporate announced right this moment {that a} new $120 million satellite-processing facility for the initiative is beneath building at Kennedy House Heart in Florida. Amazon plans to launch its first satellites “within the coming months,” adopted by the primary buyer pilots subsequent yr.
Like Elon Musk’s Starlink, Challenge Kuiper goals to offer quick and reasonably priced satellite tv for pc broadband to areas “unserved or underserved by conventional web and communications choices.” (It’s an Amazon initiative however ought to get pleasure from a comfy relationship with Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.) Challenge Kuiper kickstarted in 2018, receiving FCC satellite licensing two years later. The corporate plans to create a constellation of three,236 satellites to offer seamless broadband protection for rural customers. Amazon hasn’t but introduced shopper pricing, but it surely hints at budget-friendly plans, saying, “affordability is a key precept of Challenge Kuiper.” The corporate additionally intends to supply a number of pace / pricing tiers.
Kuiper’s satellites will likely be assembled at a brand new “state-of-the-art manufacturing facility” in Kirkland, Washington, by the tip of 2023. The brand new Florida set up will obtain the satellite tv for pc shipments, carry out remaining preparations forward of their business deployment. Amazon says it’s secured launches from Blue Origin, Arianespace and United Launch Alliance (ULA). Most models will deploy from Florida’s Cape Canaveral House Drive Station, close to the brand new processing facility.
Amazon touted Challenge Kuiper’s anticipated job creation. It says over 1,400 persons are already engaged on it, and the corporate expects the initiative to ultimately help hundreds of suppliers and extremely expert jobs — particularly in Alabama, Florida and Colorado.
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