- The FCC cleared Amazon Leo to launch 4,500 more low-Earth-orbit satellites
- In total, it's looking like Amazon Leo will have an LEO constellation of more than 7,000 satellites
- Amazon Leo will also be allowed to launch satellites to cover the Earth's polar regions
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday granted Amazon Leo the authority to launch 4,500 more satellites.
Recently, Amazon Leo asked the FCC for permission to extend its deadline to launch 3,232 satellites until July 30, 2028. The FCC hasn’t ruled on that request, yet, but it’s generally expected to approve it.
Now, with the FCC’s permission to launch 4,500 more satellites, Amazon Leo will potentially have a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 7,700 satellites.
As for the 4,500 additional satellites, Amazon Leo must launch 50% of those by February 10, 2032, and the remaining half by February 10, 2035.
The FCC’s order addressed all of Amazon’s proposed satellites which include:
- The first 3,232 (Gen1) satellite system;
- 3,212 more satellites as part of Amazon’s second-generation (Gen2);
- 1,292 more satellites for a polar system (Polar).
The order also gave Amazon authorization to communicate in additional V-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band frequencies.
Amazon Leo has said its goal is to begin providing satellite broadband to customers later this year.
“By dramatically increasing its network capacity, Amazon is positioning itself to serve a broad range of communities, including rural and underserved areas that have long faced limited or prohibitively expensive connectivity options," David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA)*, wrote in an email to Fierce Network today.
"Greater competition with established players is good news for consumers because it drives innovation, expands coverage, and helps keep prices in check. Hopefully, the FCC will apply a similar light-touch approach to other satellite applications in the future," he said.
In other Amazon Leo news
Amazon also gave an update on its satellite missions. Today, it’s preparing for its first heavy-lift mission of 2026 aboard Arianespace's Ariane 64 rocket, scheduled to launch February 12 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. It will deploy 32 satellites into low-Earth orbit.
*Ed. Note: TPA is an advocacy group that is not required to reveal the identities of many of its donors.