What Do We Know about Amazon Leo?

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, represents the tech giant's ambitious entry into the satellite internet market. Recently rebranded on November 13, 2025, this service aims to deliver high-speed connectivity through a constellation of satellites orbiting Earth.

Speed Capabilities

Amazon Leo offers three distinct terminal options, each designed for different user needs and budgets. The compact terminal delivers peak download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps, targeting residential customers and mobile users. This lightweight option weighs just 1 kilogram and measures 18 centimeters square.

The standard terminal provides significantly better performance, with peak download speeds reaching 400 Mbps and upload speeds of 100 Mbps. This model suits residential and small business applications, offering a balanced approach to connectivity needs. At 28 centimeters square and weighing 2.5 kilograms, it remains manageable for typical installations.

For enterprise customers requiring maximum bandwidth, the Pro terminal stands as the flagship offering. This high-performance unit achieves peak download speeds of 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) and upload speeds of 400 Mbps. Recent demonstrations by Rajeev Badyal, Head of Project Kuiper, showcased even higher capabilities, with test results displaying 1.29 Gbps download speeds and latency between 47-48 milliseconds. The Pro terminal measures 50.5 centimeters by 77.8 centimeters and weighs 17 kilograms, reflecting its advanced dual phased array antenna system.

Comparison with Starlink

When measured against SpaceX's Starlink service, Amazon Leo presents both advantages and challenges. Starlink currently operates with thousands of satellites already deployed, offering users typical download speeds between 25 and 220 Mbps with latency around 20-40 milliseconds. Most users experience speeds in the 100-250 Mbps range depending on network congestion and service plan.

Amazon Leo's standard terminal specifications match or exceed typical Starlink performance, with the 400 Mbps capability surpassing what most Starlink residential users currently receive. The Pro terminal's 1 Gbps capacity significantly outperforms standard Starlink offerings, positioning Amazon Leo as a strong competitor for enterprise and high-demand applications.

Both services utilize low Earth orbit satellites, which provide dramatically lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites. This positioning enables latency figures in the 20-48 millisecond range, making both suitable for real-time applications like video conferencing and online gaming.

Network Status and Availability

Amazon Leo currently operates approximately 100 satellites at an altitude of roughly 630 kilometers above Earth. The complete constellation will eventually comprise 3,236 satellites, though deployment continues at a measured pace. Additional launches are scheduled for the coming weeks and months.

Service availability follows a phased rollout strategy. Select enterprise customers should gain access by late 2025, with broader commercial service beginning in 2026. Initial markets include the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and France, with these countries expected to receive service by the second quarter of 2026.

The company faces significant deployment challenges, having launched fewer than 100 satellites compared to the thousands required for full global coverage. This places Amazon Leo well behind Starlink's existing network, which already serves customers worldwide.

Technical Architecture

Each Amazon Leo satellite processes data traffic at speeds up to 1 Terabit per second, though this capacity must be shared among multiple users. The satellites employ optical inter-satellite links using infrared lasers, enabling high-speed data transfer at rates up to 100 Gbps between spacecraft. This mesh network approach allows data to route efficiently through the constellation without constant ground station connections.

The phased array antenna technology in customer terminals eliminates the need for mechanical steering or precise manual alignment. Users simply place the terminal with a clear view of the sky, and the electronic beam steering automatically tracks satellites as they pass overhead.

Market Position

Amazon Leo enters a competitive market but brings substantial resources and infrastructure. The production cost for standard terminals reportedly sits at $400 or less, suggesting competitive pricing possibilities when commercial service launches. The company's existing logistics network and customer relationships position it well for rapid deployment once satellite coverage reaches operational thresholds.

Real-world performance will ultimately determine market success, as current demonstrations occurred under optimal conditions with ample satellite capacity per user.[6]