Project Kuiper

This week, Amazon will be launching 3 200 satellites into low-Earth orbit for what they call Project Kuiper. The satellites will beam down fast, affordable broadband services, targeting isolated communities around the world. Yes, this is a direct competitor to Starlink. Ironically, some of the satellites will be launched by SpaceX, but most will come from Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' rocket company.

Amazon has earmarked $20 billion for the project which includes a global network of ground stations and compact, affordable customer terminals. Of course the infrastructure will be powered by AWS. The future of broadband supply is evolving in front of our eyes.

As an aside, while writing this, it reminded me that America is already great. Nowhere else in the world can you have companies launching $20 billion projects with the kind of skills and technological infrastructure to provide internet from space. These are the types of exports they should be focusing on. Not re-onshoring to build shoe factories in the Midwest where no one wants to work. Long live US corporate excellence. Down with US political failure.