Amazon said its low‑earth‑orbit satellite constellation Leo reached 396 satellites after a July 2 launch that added 29 spacecraft. The company said it plans to begin broadband service later this year.

The constellation, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is part of Amazon's plan to deliver internet connectivity from space. It competes with SpaceX's Starlink and operates under a Federal Communications Commission license for up to 3,232 satellites.

The July 2 launch used a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to place the 29 satellites into low Earth orbit.

Melissa Wuerl, director of Launch Systems at Amazon, said the firm has hundreds of flight‑ready satellites at the Cape and a dedicated vertical integration facility to support future missions, which will increase launch cadence.

Amazon holds a licence for 3,232 satellites and intends to eventually operate more than 7,700, but it missed the FCC requirement to have half of the planned constellation in orbit by July 30 2026.

The company sought an extension in January and received a conditional approval last month.

The service is projected to deliver download speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps, depending on the antenna option selected.

In April, Amazon agreed to purchase Globalstar and its 24‑satellite network, which supports Apple's direct‑to‑device satellite feature, to gain a foothold in that market.

Starlink currently operates about 10,400 satellites, far exceeding Amazon's current fleet.

The UK regulator Ofcom granted Amazon a license to provide broadband services to British consumers in 2023.

Amazon has not disclosed pricing for its service, and it remains unclear how the company will meet its orbital deployment targets to launch the broadband service.