Amazon’s Project Kuiper Races to Launch Satellite Internet in India: Report
Amazon-backed Project Kuiper is moving quickly to bring its satellite internet services to India, seeking regulatory clearance from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The company has applied for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license and is pushing for a speedy Letter of Intent (LoI), similar to the one recently issued to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Interestingly, Kuiper’s application predates Starlink’s, and it plans to set up 10 gateway stations and two major connection hubs in Mumbai and Chennai.
Project Kuiper is part of Amazon’s $10 billion initiative launched in 2019 to deliver broadband internet through a network of 3,236 low-Earth orbit satellites. The service is intended to connect underserved and rural areas, making it a strong competitor not only to Starlink but also to major global telecom players. Although Amazon faced delays and missed its initial 2024 launch target, the company successfully launched its first 27 satellites from Florida last month.
Meanwhile, Starlink has received an LoI to begin operations in India, pending compliance with new regulatory norms. Industry experts say even a 1% market share in India’s vast broadband space could bring in up to $1 billion annually, making this a high-stakes race.
Source: Financial Express
