Space News by Jason Rainbow March 14, 2023
Although still weeks out from launching its first pair of prototype satellites, Amazon unveiled user terminals March 14 for a planned 3,200-satellite broadband constellation it expects will start providing beta services from low Earth orbit next year.
The company showcased three engineering antenna models for its Project Kuiper network at the Satellite 2023 conference here that are sized for different applications.
• Its standard terminal for residential and small business customers uses a 28-centimeter square design (picture an LP record cover, only thicker) and weighs less than 2.3 kilograms without its mounting bracket. This terminal would be capable of speeds up to 400 megabits per second (Mbps) and cost less than $400 to produce.
• An ultra-compact square terminal about the size of Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader, weighing just under half a kilogram, would be more affordable for customers, according to Amazon, and would offer speeds up to 100 Mbps.
• On the higher end, Amazon plans to release a device 48 centimeters by 76 centimeters across to provide speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for enterprise and government customers.
Amazon did not say how much these other two terminals would cost to produce. The company has not announced pricing for the Kuiper service or user hardware.
More:
https://spacenews.com/amazon-unveils-project-kuiper-terminals-for-services-starting-in-2024/
