Amazon challenges Starlink’s space internet – can calm Europe
At the end of April, Amazon sent its first 27 internet satellites. In total, the company plans for a system of over 3,200 satellites, which will deliver broadband to places that are currently in internet shadow, writes Reuters.
The plan is to challenge Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX as the leading Internet provider from space. Amazon’s project Kuiper was launched as early as 2019, but has been delayed.
« They have had plans for many years, but they have not managed to be as fast as SpaceX and Starlink at all, » says Hans Liwång, professor of defense systems at the Swedish Defense College.
In total, Amazon calculates That the company needs about 580 satellites in circulation around the earth to use the system.
So it will take a while before the system is running. But that Amazon now has its first satellites in circulation is a first step towards increased competition.
– Having more alternatives is very important. They are based on slightly different technology. They have slightly different weaknesses if we compare SpaceX and Amazon. This means that as a consumer, whether in a country, a defense force or a private person, you can choose between different services.
Since 2019, SpaceX has sent up about 8,000 satellites. More than 7,000 of them still remain in circulation around the earth, and Starlink is currently estimated to have 5 million users in 130 different countries.
– As it has been, we have not had an accessible alternative to Starlink, Liwång notes.
That Starlink has been so passed Dominant has not least been noticed during the war in Ukraine. Elon Musk started delivering star link terminals to Ukraine shortly after Russia’s large -scale invasion in 2022.
But that tech environment Musk both served as an adviser and efficiency general for US President Donald Trump, and at the same time had the power to extinguish the Internet in parts of Ukraine has been questioned.
– In the European countries, there have been discussions about whether you think there is a political risk about being linked to a company, and in this case a company that has a leader that is politically controversial, says Liwång.
Instead, both private and state alternatives to Starlink have been discussed in Europe. But state European alternatives are not something Liwång believes.
– It’s far too far away with a system where European states come together, he says.
If Amazon holds its However, the schedule will probably be the discussion about a European alternative to calm down, Liwång believes.
– It is certainly one for American companies, but not the same American company. If things go fast for Amazon now, you can instead work with several different commercial alternatives, he says.
In just a few years, the satellite internet has gone from being a service that did not even exist, to offering the Internet on long -distance flights, and now being available to common man.
-Today you can buy a Starlink antenna and thus get the internet in your summer cottage, without there being mobile coverage or fiber. We will see a development where many more are taking a satellite operator for their internet when you are in the boat, caravan or in the summer cottage, says Liwång.
In addition to Amazon, too British satellite player Oneweb a competitor in space internet. There are also several Chinese initiatives, a Russian venture and plans from Taiwan’s Space Agency TASA on its own satellite internet system.
In the long term, there will probably also be more commercial big players who want to challenge. There is room for two, three to operators who offer space internet, according to Liwång.
– Everything indicates that several such solutions are needed. It is slow for the competitors, but I see that they will get started. We will see which more new companies are coming in this area. Because there will be more.
