Amazon Leo passes 350 satellites as FCC waives, then penalises, the half-deploy deadline
Third-largest constellation, beta in five countries late 2026, but spectral priority demoted for slow build
Summary
Amazon's Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) has passed ~350 production satellites across 18+ missions, the third-largest constellation behind Starlink and OneWeb. June 2026 brought its largest batch yet, 36 satellites on an Ariane 6 from Kourou. But deployment is behind: the FCC waived the July 2026 deadline to launch half the ~3,200-satellite constellation, while warning it will demote the spectral priority of satellites launched after that milestone until Amazon builds faster. Amazon plans beta service in five countries in late 2026 or early 2027, once roughly 578 satellites provide initial coverage. The pace lag matters because Starlink and China's constellations are filling the same orbits and spectrum first.
By the numbers
- ~350, production satellites in orbit across 18+ missions.
- 36, largest single batch, on Ariane 6 (June 2026).
- 578, satellites needed for initial beta coverage.
- ~3,200, total Gen-1 constellation; half-deploy deadline waived but penalised.
Why it matters
Amazon has the capital and launch contracts but is years behind Starlink. The FCC's priority-demotion lever shows regulators using spectrum status to force pace, and a slow build risks ceding orbital slots and customers to Starlink and China before Leo is even operational.
What to watch
- Whether Amazon's launch rate climbs enough to restore spectral priority.
- The first beta countries and service quality vs Starlink.
- Ariane 6 / Atlas V / Vulcan throughput against the manifest.