Amazon is struggling to deliver its satellite internet project, Project Kuiper, which is set to rival Elon Musk's Starlink. More than a year after production began, the company has managed to produce only a few dozen satellites, Bloomberg reports.
Amazon's slow build-up and launch delays mean it will likely have to ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a delay. The regulator requires the company to launch at least half of its planned 3,236 satellites by the end of July 2026.
Meanwhile, Kuiper engineers have yet to achieve a steady production rate of at least one satellite per day. To meet the plan, Amazon will need to at least quadruple its production rate. The company is already working on this, having launched production at full capacity, including night shifts, and says its schedule is in line with plans to launch the first commercial services by the end of 2025.
Project Kuiper is currently one of Amazon's most important development areas. The project team includes former SpaceX employees, and the main goal is to provide global internet connectivity for individuals, companies, and government agencies.
SpaceX's Starlink, on the other hand, already has about 8,000 satellites in orbit and serves more than 5 million users. However, some potential customers have become more skeptical of Starlink due to Musk's political activism, which supports Donald Trump, so Kuiper seems like a viable alternative for them.
The first commercial launch of 27 Kuiper satellites was scheduled for April 9, 2025, but was postponed to April 28 due to bad weather. The launches are complicated by the fact that most of the rockets ordered from various companies are still in development. In the meantime, the FCC may not grant a delay yet, although industry experts say it is likely.