Amazon Unveils Terminal Designs for Project Kuiper's Satellite Internet

Amazon's Project Kuiper has been in the works for years, and it's finally nearing its launch date with the unveiling of its terminal designs. These terminals will allow customers to connect to the low-Earth orbit-based satellite internet network that Amazon is building to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.

The engineering models that Amazon showed off included three different versions that cater to various customer needs. The sub-five-pound version will offer speeds of up to 400 Mbps, while the smaller, 7-inch square design will be less capable but more portable. Finally, the large, 19 x 30 inch version is designed for commercial use and offers gigabit speeds.

All of these terminals will be powered by an in-house-designed baseband chip called "Prometheus," which will also be sent to space aboard the Kuiper satellites. This chip has a unique design that allows it to process up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of traffic on each satellite, helping to handle high network demand.

The first two prototype satellites are set to launch sometime in 2023, and Amazon plans to kick off mass production of its spacecraft later in the year. Customers can expect to have access to the service by the end of 2024.

While Amazon hasn't shared target pricing for these terminals, it did say that the cost to build each unit will be less than $400. This cost is significantly lower than what SpaceX's Starlink charges for its terminals, which is a promising sign for consumers.

Overall, it looks like Amazon's Project Kuiper is poised to offer some serious competition to SpaceX's Starlink, and we can't wait to see how this space race plays out.

(via: Amazon)