The Connectivity Constellation Kuiper is still far from orbit, but Amazon unveiled yesterday the prototypes of its antennas for individuals and professionals. Mass production will start soon, and the firm announces floor prices to fight against its designated competitor, star link.
Those responsible for the project have spent, but not lavishly.
Antennas and performance
” Every decision we make centers on what will provide the best user experience for our customers around the world, and our devices reflect those choices. “. This Tuesday, March 14, the distribution giant unveiled the three antennas that should shape its global connectivity offer. The first and the one that is destined to become widespread costs Amazon less than $400 to manufacture, measures 11 inches (29 cm) diagonally and 1 inch (2.6 cm) thick, the size of a tablet. even if it weighs 2.5 kg with its adjustable foot. Amazon announces a maximum throughput of 400 Mb (50 Mb/s) for this “standard” version… While two other products are already on the table, a smaller 7-inch and 500 g antenna with a throughput of 100 Mb (12.5 Mo/s) which is already planned for offers with mobility, and a broadband antenna intended for “pro” business offers, which will measure 19 x 30 inches (i.e. approximately 50 cm x 1 m) to offer a speed of 1Gb/s (125MB/s).
Kuiper arrives
This announcement is actually a reminder that Amazon is still in the race to offer its own connectivity solutions, and that the delays in the project have not called into question the objective. The giant remains silent for the moment on future prices, just like the date of entry into service for these new offers… but it has had its antennas tested by a panel of future customers, and it is already settling production targets for the end of 2023. Similarly for the satellite side, everything is to be simulated for the moment, since none is yet in orbit. This does not prevent Amazon from forecasting the production of 3 to 5 Kuiper satellites per day by the last quarter.
Because after all, for a company that aims to send more than 3,400 satellites into orbit, unveil the antennas and predict the speeds, it’s a bit like putting the cart before the horse. The first two prototype Kuiper satellites are set to lift off in May with the maiden launch of Vulcan, the rocket Amazon will use the most for its satellite batches (along with Blue Origin’s New Glenn and Ariane 6). The company announces however that they will be slightly different from the units produced in series during the rest of the year. Indeed, it is above all a question of validating future technologies and evaluating performance.
Objective, to dethrone Starlink…
What to shake Starlink? Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Amazon and head of Kuiper, told CNBC that the satellites in his constellation would be “bigger and much more capable” than those of SpaceX, with a lifespan of around 7 years in low orbit. , while promoting the reception quality of the new antennas. The attack is frontal, but it is unlikely to shake the firm of Elon Musk. With more than a million users, ever-increasing contracts around the world with companies, the prospect of arriving on mobile and more than 4,000 satellites in orbit, the latter will make tough economic opponents. The real losers may once again be astronomers or other users of low orbit…
Source : The verge
12