Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) expects to roll out initial internet service with its Leo broadband satellite network later this year after its latest launch pushed the constellation’s satellite count above 390, a company executive said Thursday.
Latest Launch Pushes Leo Toward Early Service
Amazon’s latest batch of 29 satellites lifted off early Thursday from Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, marking the company’s 14th mission in a broader push to deploy more than 3,200 satellites for internet coverage from space. Amazon said the launch brought the total number of deployed Leo satellites to 396.
"Still lots of work ahead – including raising all these new satellites to their assigned altitude," Amazon Leo chief Chris Weber said in a post on X. "But we’ve completed enough launches for initial service this yr, and future missions just add coverage and capacity."
Weber did not say where Amazon plans to start service. Reuters reported that initial service is expected near Earth’s north and south poles before spreading toward the equator as Amazon adds more satellites. Spaceflight analyst Jonathan McDowell counted 394 satellites in orbit out of 398 launched since April 2025.
Grounded Rockets Complicate Amazon’s Satellite Deployment Timeline
Amazon has been targeting a mid-2026 service start and has relied heavily on Atlas V, while other rockets it plans to use remain grounded. The company said Atlas V launched 224 Leo satellites with a 100% success rate across eight missions and will now give way to ULA’s Vulcan rocket.
That transition comes with risk. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on its launchpad last month, damaging launch infrastructure and other hardware. Benzinga previously reported that all personnel were safe and that Blue Origin was still investigating the cause. CEO Dave Limp has said the company still plans to fly New Glenn again this year.
ULA’s Vulcan, booked for at least 40 Leo missions, is also grounded after a February solid rocket motor separation issue. Vulcan uses Blue Origin-built BE-4 engines, the same engine family used by New Glenn. ULA spokeswoman Jessica Rye said to Reuters that Blue Origin engineers "are being transparent with us as they work through the investigation. If there are crossover items with the BE-4 engines, we will collaborate with the team to find root cause and address it."
Starlink’s Lead Tests Amazon’s Growing Broadband Ambitions
Amazon has roughly 100 rocket launches booked, worth at least $82 billion, with ULA, Blue Origin, Arianespace and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). Its use of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 highlights the awkward balance of the satellite race, where Amazon is building a rival to Starlink while also relying on the rocket that helped SpaceX deploy its own network.
Starlink’s lead remains large, with SpaceX already operating thousands more satellites and signing major aviation customers. But Amazon has also started landing partners, including Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL), showing that Leo is no longer just a paper rival.
According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Amazon stock ranks in the 95th percentile for Growth, although it shows a negative price trend in the Short term.
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