Amazon Leo reaches 396 satellites, edges closer to Starlink rival

Amazon's satellite internet project, Amazon Leo, has reached a critical milestone with 396 satellites in orbit, enabling initial continuous service. The company announced it has enough satellites to offer 'service continuo en las latitudes iniciales' Source: Infobae, targeting a limited launch in the US by the end of 2026. Vice President Chris Weber confirmed the achievement after 14 missions, with 29 satellites launched on an Atlas V rocket Source: euronewses.

Competition with Starlink

While Leo becomes the third-largest constellation, it remains far behind SpaceX's Starlink, which operates over 10,000 satellites and offers coverage in more than 150 countries Source: elcaribedr. Leo currently has only two airline contracts—JetBlue Airways (2027) and Delta Air Lines (2028)—compared to Starlink's 200+ Source: elcaribedr. The satellite internet market is projected to grow from $13.3 billion in 2026 to $35.7 billion in 2033, attracting fierce competition Source: Infobae.

What's next

Amazon plans to accelerate launches using the Vulcan rocket, with over 100 missions scheduled and a goal of 7,727 satellites by 2035 Source: elcaribedr. However, recent setbacks include a New Glenn rocket explosion during testing, though Amazon stated no satellites were lost Source: euronewses. Commercial service is expected in the third quarter of 2026, with pricing and coverage details still undisclosed Source: Infobae.