Amazon.com has signed up Verizon as a new partner in its Project Kuiper to bring satellite broadband to the US. The companies said they have started working together on commercial models for a range of connectivity services for US consumers and global enterprise customers operating in rural and remote locations around the world. The initial services may include cellular backhaul and fixed-wireless access.
Project Kuiper is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) around the planet. The system will target customers where internet access is limited or unavailable. Amazon has committed an initial USD 10 billion to developing the project.
Verizon already works with Amazon Web Services on 5G edge services and said the new cooperation is complementary. To begin, Amazon and Verizon will focus on expanding Verizon data networks using cellular backhaul from Project Kuiper. The integration will leverage antenna development already in progress from the Project Kuiper team. In addition, both companies' engineering teams are working to define technical requirements to help extend fixed wireless coverage to rural and remote communities across the US.
