E-commerce giant Amazon has unveiled a series of customer terminals designed to connect to its broadband satellite network, Project Kuiper. The company expects these devices to be smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than those offered by competitors, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Kuiper Project Devices
Standard terminal for customers
The first device presented by Amazon is the standard terminal for customers of the Kuiper Project. This terminal measures less than 28 square centimeters and 2.5 centimeters thick. Its weight is less than 2.3 kg, not counting its mounting bracket. This device is capable of offering speeds of up to 400 Mbps. Amazon expects to produce this terminal for less than $400.
compact terminal
The next device is an even more compact terminal, weighing only 0.45 kg and measuring approximately 18 square centimeters. Amazon claims that this device is its “smallest and cheapest” option, capable of delivering speeds of up to 100 Mbps. This terminal is ideal for those looking for a low-cost internet option or mobile service.
commercial terminal
Finally, Amazon presented its commercial terminal, intended to be used by large companies or government organizations. It is the largest and most powerful terminal of the three, with dimensions of 48 x 76 centimeters and the capacity to provide speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
The revolutionary Prometheus chip
All of these terminals are equipped with the baseband chip developed by Amazon, dubbed Prometheus. According to the company, this chip “combines the processing power of a 5G modem chip found in modern smartphones, the ability of a cellular base station to handle traffic from thousands of clients at once, and the ability of a loop antenna.” microwave backbone to support a powerful point-to-point connection.”
What is the Kuiper Project?
The Kuiper Project is Amazon’s initiative to connect people around the world through the Internet using a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. Amazon is expected to launch its first round of satellites in the first half of 2024 and begin serving its first customers later that year. It is not yet clear in which areas the Kuiper Project will start offering Internet or how much it will cost to customers.
Next steps of the Kuiper Project
Meanwhile, Amazon plans to deploy its first two prototype satellites on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket in May of this year. With the introduction of these terminals and the upcoming satellite launches, the Kuiper Project is getting closer to becoming a reality and changing the way we access the Internet around the world.
Challenges and competitors
Despite the advances in the Kuiper Project, Amazon faces stiff competition in the satellite Internet market. Starlink, Elon Musk’s company, has already launched more than 1,000 satellites and has begun offering Internet services in some regions. However, Amazon’s commitment to innovation and accessibility could allow it to successfully compete in this rapidly growing space.
One of the main goals of the Kuiper Project is to connect underserved and underserved communities around the world. By offering high-quality and affordable terminals, Amazon hopes to bring Internet access to people who currently do not have access to broadband services.
Environmental impact and regulations
Like other satellite internet projects, the Kuiper Project faces concerns about its environmental impact and the need to comply with international regulations. Amazon will need to work closely with regulatory agencies and environmental organizations to ensure that your project is sustainable and meets legal requirements.
On the other hand, we hope that they take into account the problem that this type of project is generating with astronomical observations.
