Amazon requests permission in the US to launch thousands of satellites

Amazon has applied for permission to launch thousands of satellites, in order to start a global satellite network for the provision of the Internet. It concerns a project under the name Kuiper, which was already announced in April.

The application has been made to the US telecom watchdog Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, reports Bloomberg news agency. In the filing, Amazon says that by launching a total of 3,236 satellites, it wants to establish a global network to bring Internet to tens of millions of Americans who now have no good broadband alternative. In addition, Amazon states that there are billions of people worldwide who can benefit from satellite internet.

It is not clear from the application when Amazon plans to launch the satellites and which space vehicle to use. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has his own space company with Blue Origin, but that is not yet widely used for launching satellites, while competitor SpaceX has a lot of experience with this.

Amazon announced in April that it plans to provide satellite internet by setting up a network of 3,236 satellites to be launched into low Earth orbit. The company then indicated that it was a long-term project, and last month CEO Jeff Bezos said the project is likely to cost tens of billions of dollars.