Amazon’s $10 billion satellite venture — Kuiper — is getting a 4G/LTE and 5G boost from Verizon. According to The Verge, the two companies have teamed up to expand coverage to remote areas of the globe, with Kuiper’s satellites providing connectivity to future Verizon cell towers.
“There are billions of people without reliable broadband access, and no single company will close the digital divide on its own,” said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in a statement. “Verizon is a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to the customers and communities who need it most.”
The Kuiper initiative aims to launch a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband internet coverage to remote and rural areas on Earth. Through testing, Kuiper claims its systems can produce throughput speeds up to 400 Mbps, reported The Verge.
Amazon has yet to launch any satellites. Kuiper has until 2026 to launch half of its intended satellites (1,618) to comply with its FCC license, reported The Verge.
Kuiper’s partnership with Verizon, in theory, will allow the telecom to build 4G and 5G towers in rural and remote areas without laying fiber. Bypassing this challenging and cost-prohibitive step could allow Verizon to expand its reach in unserved and underserved areas.
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