Home / Technology / Amazon's Starlink Rival Leo Cleared for Next-Gen Satellites
Amazon's Starlink Rival Leo Cleared for Next-Gen Satellites
11 Feb
Summary
- Amazon's Leo constellation received FCC clearance for over 4,500 new satellites.
- The approval includes enhanced coverage for polar regions and higher operating power.
- Amazon faces an FCC deadline for its first-generation constellation launch.
Amazon has received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) clearance to launch a second generation of its Leo satellite constellation. This approval authorizes the deployment of an additional 4,504 satellites in low-Earth orbit.
The new satellites will enhance coverage, particularly in polar regions like Alaska and northern Canada. They will also operate on more radio frequencies, including V-band, and at higher power levels in the US, similar to SpaceX's Starlink second-generation satellites.
This clearance arrives as Amazon races to meet an FCC deadline for its first-generation constellation. The company was required to launch at least half of its initial 3,232 satellites by late July but currently has only about 180 operational.
Amazon has requested a deadline extension or waiver, but Tuesday's approval allows for the continued launch of second-generation satellites. The FCC did defer a decision on Amazon's request to operate in specific higher frequency bands. Leo aims to provide speeds up to 1Gbps for enterprise users.
