Amazon’s Project Kuiper Eyes India, Set to Challenge Starlink in Satellite Internet Race
Amazon is preparing to launch its satellite internet service Project Kuiper in India. The tech giant has approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), seeking regulatory approval to introduce broadband services via satellite in the country. If approved, Amazon will join a growing list of players in India’s satellite internet market, including Reliance Jio’s SpaceFiber, Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Starlink.
Project Kuiper aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet to underserved and remote areas using a constellation of over 3,200 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Amazon has already launched 27 operational Kuiper satellites into orbit, with several more scheduled for deployment in the coming months. The company is moving fast to secure approvals ahead of its planned commercial rollout later this year.
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To support its operations in India, Amazon plans to establish 10 gateway earth stations and two major presence points—one in Mumbai and another in Chennai. These stations will play a vital role in routing internet data, ensuring better connectivity, and reducing latency for Indian users. The infrastructure setup signals Amazon’s commitment to making Kuiper a good alternative to existing satellite broadband services.
Starlink recently received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Indian government. Meanwhile, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio’s joint venture with SES have already secured GMPCS licenses and IN-SPACe approvals. While Starlink currently leads with over 7,000 satellites in orbit, Amazon’s Kuiper is aimed catch up its share in the market.
