By The Chronicle Staff

Amazon is preparing to enter the rapidly growing satellite internet market later this year, marking a significant milestone in the company's effort to bring high-speed broadband service to customers around the world.

The company announced this week that it expects to begin offering internet service through its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network before the end of 2026. The announcement follows another successful rocket launch that increased Amazon's satellite constellation to nearly 400 spacecraft in orbit, bringing the company closer to the minimum coverage needed for commercial service.

The latest mission launched 29 additional satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Company officials say those satellites must still reach their final operating positions, but enough launches have now been completed to begin an initial rollout.

Rather than immediately offering worldwide coverage, Amazon is expected to begin service in higher-latitude regions near the Earth's north and south poles before gradually expanding toward the equator as additional satellites are launched. This phased approach is similar to how SpaceX introduced its Starlink network during its early years.

Amazon's satellite internet system is designed to compete directly with Starlink, the market leader operated by SpaceX.

While Starlink currently has roughly 10,000 satellites in orbit serving customers across much of the globe, Amazon is still in the early stages of building its planned constellation of more than 3,200 satellites.

The company plans to offer several types of customer terminals, including compact residential units roughly the size of a laptop as well as larger, higher-performance systems aimed at businesses and government users. The service is expected to provide broadband access in rural and underserved areas where traditional fiber or cable internet is unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

Despite reaching an important milestone, Amazon still faces challenges. Several of its launch providers have encountered setbacks in recent months, including delays involving Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.

Even so, Amazon has secured more than 100 rocket launches across multiple providers to continue building its satellite network over the coming years.

For consumers, increased competition in satellite internet could lead to more choices, improved performance and potentially lower prices over time.

Rural communities, farms, remote businesses and emergency responders stand to benefit the most from expanded access to reliable high-speed internet without relying on traditional ground-based infrastructure.

As Amazon moves from launching satellites to connecting customers, the company is poised to become the second major player in a market that many analysts believe will play an increasingly important role in closing the digital divide around the world.

While Starlink maintains a sizable head start, Amazon's entry promises to intensify competition in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the telecommunications industry. ■