Image: Amazon
Amazon has officially rebranded its Project Kuiper satellite internet initiative as Amazon Leo, marking a major milestone as the company prepares to launch its long-awaited Starlink competitor in early 2026. The new name is a direct nod to the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation powering the network, replacing the seven-year-old “Project Kuiper” codename originally inspired by the Kuiper Belt.
“Seven years ago, Amazon set out to design the most advanced satellite communications network ever built,” the company said in its announcement. The mission has remained unchanged: using a LEO network to bring fast, reliable connectivity to the billions worldwide who still lack high-speed internet access, including businesses and communities in remote regions.
Amazon plans to officially roll out the service in the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, and the U.K. in Q1 2026. The company launched its first batch of satellites in April and now has more than 150 in orbit. Under its license, Amazon must deploy roughly half of its planned 3,236-satellite constellation — around 1,600 satellites — by the end of July 2026.
The rebrand accompanies a period of rapid acceleration for the program. Amazon now operates one of the largest satellite production lines in the world and has developed advanced customer terminals, including what it calls the first commercial phased array antenna capable of gigabit speeds. In September, Amazon Leo VP Rajeev Badyal demonstrated the service exceeding gigabit throughput, signaling Amazon’s serious intent to rival SpaceX’s Starlink.
Several major partners have already signed on to integrate Amazon Leo connectivity, including JetBlue, DIRECTV Latin America, Sky Brasil, L3Harris, and Australia’s NBN Co. Even without a commercial launch, Amazon’s satellite network has already secured more than $100 million in funding from the U.S. government’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand internet access to underserved communities.
Amazon says the new branding reflects its transition from a development-stage project to a commercial-scale service that is nearing launch. The company will continue building out its constellation as it prepares for customer rollouts beginning next year.
