New Delhi: Amazon has crossed a major milestone in its satellite internet ambitions after deploying more than 390 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, a number
the company says is enough to begin offering its space-based broadband service. The 29 newest satellites were deployed from Florida on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle, bringing Amazon closer to competing with SpaceX’s Starlink in the expanding satellite internet industry.
Amazon’s LEO satellite programme head Chris Weber announced in a post on X that the company has reached the point where it can start initial service later this year. He noted that engineers are still working on moving the newly launched satellites into their designated orbital positions, while future launches will improve coverage and network capacity, reported by Independent.
Initial rollout to begin in limited regions
Last few launches were big for @AmazonLeo – bringing us to 390+ satellites deployed, enough to support continuous service across initial latitudes.
Still lots of work ahead – including raising all these new satellites to their assigned altitude – but we’ve completed enough… pic.twitter.com/UZb404fXRq
— Chris Weber (@Weber44Chris) July 2, 2026
The first satellite internet service from Amazon will be launched at higher latitudes before it radiates out to the equator with the launch of additional satellites. The company claims its new Leo Ultra antenna will provide quicker satellite broadband rates to both businesses and consumers.
The Amazon Leo Ultra satellite internet service was initially announced in November 2025 and has already begun with some enterprise customers. They ranged from clean energy firm Hunt Energy Network to airline JetBlue, which is trialling the service in the real world.
Amazon still trails Starlink by a wide margin
Although Amazon has hit the first deployment target, it is still far behind SpaceX in the number of satellites deployed. Starlink is the largest satellite internet network with over 10,000 satellites in orbit and has already provided service to over 12 million people in more than 150 countries.
Amazon intends to eventually launch 3,232 first-generation satellites, then an additional 4,504 second-generation satellites to boost its broadband services. The company is hoping the larger constellation will enable it to be more competitive in the years ahead.
Launch setbacks slow Amazon’s expansion
Amazon’s launch of its satellites has been beset by a number of issues in 2026. A test flight with Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket ended in an explosion earlier this year, which has put flights on hold. Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin, was also to be responsible for about a quarter of the constellation deployments.
The company also has been impacted by United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which was grounded after a problem with its rocket separation motor. Despite these challenges, Amazon says it still plans to launch its first commercial satellite internet service by the end of the year.
