Amazon’s Project Kuiper is finally getting a launch date. On Tuesday, Amazon announced an agreement with Australia’s state-owned National Broadband Network Company to bring the satellite internet service to 300,000 eligible customers in the rural outback of Australia in “the middle of 2026.”
The announcement comes five years after the Federal Communications Commission first gave Amazon permission to deploy a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites similar to SpaceX’s Starlink service. Since then, Amazon has launched just 78 Project Kuiper satellites -- far fewer than the 8,073 active Starlink satellites in orbit.
“Australia’s vast geography presents unique connectivity challenges that traditional infrastructure often can’t overcome,” Joe Lathan, Project Kuiper’s manager for Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement. “This partnership with NBN Co. represents our commitment to solving these challenges through innovation and collaboration.”
Locating local internet providers
This is the first time Amazon has put a firm launch date on its Project Kuiper internet service. In a page updated on June 5, Amazon said it plans to start delivering service to customers “in late 2025.” The company hasn’t said where Project Kuiper will be available or how much service will cost.
Amazon did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for further comment.
Locating local internet providers