Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites Achieve Blistering 1.29Gbps in Early Tests

In a major milestone for Amazon’s ambitious Project Kuiper satellite broadband initiative, recent speed tests have demonstrated download speeds hitting an impressive 1.29 Gigabits per second (Gbps). The tests, conducted on the initial batch of 104 satellites launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), showcase the potential of the company’s planned constellation of 3,236 satellites.

Pushing the Limits of Satellite Broadband

Rajeev Badyal, Head of Project Kuiper, personally oversaw the speed tests using the project’s enterprise-grade customer terminal. The results, as Badyal noted on LinkedIn, “speak for themselves.”

“For all the focus on our satellites, some of the biggest Kuiper inventions are on the customer terminal side of the house,” Badyal wrote. “The team set a high bar from the start, and as far as we know, this is the first commercial phased array antenna to deliver 1+ Gbps from low Earth orbit.”

Promising Latency and Speeds

The test also revealed a real-world latency of around 47-48 milliseconds (ms), aligning with expectations for the initial batch of satellites and hardware at altitudes ranging from 590km to 630km. Amazon anticipates that latency and speeds will further improve as the network is refined.

Project Kuiper aims to deliver latency and speeds comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink, focusing on reaching underserved communities. The project’s smallest ultra-compact ground terminals are expected to support downloads of up to 100Mbps, while the largest model tested could reach up to 1Gbps.

Substantial Investment and Partnerships

Amazon is investing heavily in Project Kuiper, with the entire project expected to cost up to $20 billion (£14.9 billion) by its targeted completion in 2030/31. The company has partnered with a mix of rocket providers, including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and even rival SpaceX, to deploy its satellite constellation.

Looking Ahead to Commercial Launch

The first commercial beta services are slated to begin with a few initial users around the end of 2025, with an early commercial launch in the USA planned for later in 2026. The UK is also expected to see the service launch within that timeframe, though specific dates and consumer pricing have yet to be confirmed.

As Project Kuiper continues to make strides, the future of satellite broadband looks increasingly promising, with the potential to bridge the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to communities across the globe.