Amazon’s Project Kuiper Eyes Entry into Cellular Satellite Market, Rivaling Starlink
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which aims to compete with Starlink, may eventually provide satellite-powered cellular service for consumer phones. This was revealed in a filing Amazon submitted to the UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom, as first noted by a Twitter user.
Ofcom had requested input from private companies about the direct-to-device (D2D) market, where satellites in orbit would directly connect to mobile phones. In response, Amazon expressed interest in D2D services, stating it’s exploring technical solutions for this market. The company urged Ofcom to implement flexible and inclusive regulations for satellite services, including allowing D2D communication across all frequencies currently used by ground-based cellular networks.
While the filing didn’t offer many specific details, Amazon emphasized that flexible rules would ensure enough spectrum availability to meet the growing demand for D2D services.
The D2D market is becoming increasingly competitive. Starlink plans to launch a beta version of its “direct-to-cell” service for T-Mobile users later this year, while AST SpaceMobile aims to start testing its service with AT&T and Verizon by December. EchoStar, Hughesnet’s parent company, is also preparing to invest heavily in this area.
Amazon’s entry into the D2D space may face tough competition. For now, Project Kuiper is focusing on deploying its first production satellites by the end of Q4, with the goal of eventually launching over 3,000 satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to custom satellite dishes, with possible future expansion into cellular satellite services.
Newer Articles
- What is Apple Intelligence? A New Era of AI-Powered Features
- How to Generate Human-Friendly Responses with GPT-4V: An In-Depth Review
- Sky’s the Limit: How Donating Airplanes and Helicopters Can Transform Lives and Communities
