The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially approved Amazon secures FCC clearance to deploy 4,500 LEO internet satellites, marking a major milestone in the company’s push to build a global space-based broadband network and challenge existing players in the market.
With this latest authorization from the Federal Communications Commission, Amazon can now expand its planned low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to approximately 7,700 satellites in total. The approval strengthens Amazon’s long-term strategy as it races to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the rapidly growing satellite internet sector.
Satellite Launches Already Underway
Since April, Amazon has successfully launched more than 150 satellites using multiple rocket providers. The company aims to begin offering commercial satellite internet services through its Leo program later this year. The initiative, first unveiled in 2019, represents one of Amazon’s most ambitious infrastructure projects to date.
According to FCC filings, the newly approved satellites belong to Amazon’s second-generation orbital system. These satellites will operate at altitudes of up to roughly 400 miles above Earth and are designed to support additional frequency bands. This expansion will also allow Leo to extend its service coverage to more geographic regions worldwide.
Strict FCC Timelines and Launch Pressures
As part of the approval, the FCC has set firm deployment deadlines. Amazon must place 50% of the newly authorized satellites into orbit by February 10, 2032, with the remaining half required to launch by February 10, 2035.
At the same time, Amazon is facing pressure to meet an earlier FCC mandate requiring the deployment of 1,600 first-generation satellites by July 2026. Last month, the company formally requested an extension to July 2028—or a complete waiver—citing factors beyond its control. The FCC has not yet issued a decision on that request.
Amazon pointed to a global shortage of available rockets as a key obstacle. In its filing, the company noted that Leo is “producing satellites considerably faster than others can launch them,” highlighting a bottleneck that could affect near-term rollout plans.
A $10 Billion Bet on Space-Based Internet
Amazon has already invested $10 billion into building its satellite internet infrastructure and plans to spend an additional $1 billion this year alone. The Leo network is expected to go head-to-head with SpaceX’s Starlink service, which currently has more than 9,000 satellites in orbit and serves roughly 9 million customers worldwide.
In its most recent quarterly report, Amazon’s finance chief, Brian Olsavsky, revealed that the company has scheduled more than 20 satellite launches in 2026 and over 30 launches in 2027 as deployment accelerates.
The next Leo mission is slated for Thursday, when a rocket operated by Arianespace will carry 32 additional satellites into orbit. Amazon has already secured 17 more missions with the French launch firm, underscoring the scale and urgency of its plans.
As regulatory approvals fall into place and launch schedules ramp up, Amazon’s satellite internet ambitions are moving from vision to reality—setting the stage for intensified competition in the global broadband-from-space race. 🚀
