Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

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Amazon’s Kuiper Satellites to Get Boost from Rival Spacex

Amazon’s decision to rely on SpaceX, despite being a direct
competitor, shows the urgency behind Project Kuiper. Amazon had
already signed contracts with several launch providers like ULA,
Arianespace, and Blue Origin (which is also owned by Amazon
founder Jeff Bezos). But most of these rockets are either delayed
or flying rarely. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket hasn’t flown yet.
Arianespace’s Ariane 6 just completed its first mission in July
2025, and ULA’s Vulcan Centaur has limited flights. In this situation,
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was the only option that could provide
fast and reliable access to orbit. Falcon 9 has completed hundreds
of successful launches and is currently the most reliable rocket
system in the world, according to SpaceX. This move also signals
a change in Amazon’s execution strategy. Project Kuiper is no
longer moving slowly. Amazon now needs to move quickly to meet
important rules and stay competitive with SpaceX’s Starlink. Starlink
already has over 7,855 working satellites in space, according to
Jonathan McDowell’s satellite tracker. Compared to that, Kuiper
is just getting started. But Amazon has bigger plans. It wants to
use the Kuiper satellite network as a base to expand Amazon Web
Services (AWS) and improve cloud access across the globe. The
company says that small-scale testing of Kuiper internet service
will begin in early 2026, and full operations are expected soon
after. The total cost of the project is over $10 billion (Amazon’s
most ambitious move into space). So, by choosing SpaceX, space. This will help Amazon get closer to meeting its requirement
Amazon has taken a serious step to make Kuiper real. It’s not just for building a working global satellite internet network. Project
an idea anymore. The system is launching, growing, and aiming to Kuiper is Amazon’s plan to spend billions of dollars to provide fast
compete. This one mission won’t close the gap with Starlink, but it internet to people in remote areas. It will do this using a group of
shows that Amazon is now playing to win. The question is not just low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Even though Amazon and SpaceX
whether Kuiper will succeed, but how fast Amazon can build, scale, are direct competitors, Amazon still chose to use SpaceX’s Falcon
and deliver. The pressure is on and Falcon 9 is just the beginning. 9 rocket. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license
Amazon will soon launch the next group of its Project Kuiper says that at least half of Kuiper’s planned 3,236 satellites must be
satellites using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This is unusual because in orbit by July 2026. That means that Amazon has to launch 1,618
Amazon and SpaceX are major competitors in the satellite internet satellites in one year. Until now, Amazon had only launched two
market. The mission, named KF-01, is scheduled for July 16, 2025, test satellites in 2023 using a ULA Atlas V rocket. After the Falcon
from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will carry 24 Kuiper satellites into 9 mission, the number will rise to 78, according to TechCrunch.

T-Mobile US, SES deals given FCC green light

US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a trio part of an agreement for it to buy the fiber company alongside
of separate transactions, with T-Mobile US’ pending Metronet and investment company KKR. The two T-Mobile deal approvals came
UScellular deals given the nod alongside the transfer of licenses shortly after it ditched its diversity, equity and inclusion policies,
held by satellite player Intelsat to SES. In a statement, the regulator a move praised by FCC chair Brendan Carr but denounced by
positioned the three individual deals as contributing to wider the agency’s democrat commissioner Anna Gomez as a “cynical
US goals to attract more investment into the communications bid” to win regulatory approval for its deals. The third approval
segment and increase network capacity. The FCC’s nod for announced by the FCC was for the transfer of licenses as part of
T-Mobile’s agreement to buy most of UScellular’s wireless assets satellite player SES’ deal to buy rival Intelsat. “Approval of the SES
came a day after the deal was cleared by the US Department of Intelsat transaction builds on the Commission’s efforts to promote
Justice. On giving its blessing, the communications regulator the provision of robust and competitive satellite services to the
noted the move would provide substantial benefits for customers public,” the regulator noted, adding the move would “create a more
of the two operators involved. In further positive news for T-Mobile, vigorous multi-orbit competitor in the satellite communications
the regulator gave the green light for the transfer of control of marketplace”.
five of Metronet’s subsidiaries to the mobile player, which forms

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