By Tecno 
Amazon has unveiled its new satellite antenna Leo Ultra, a service designed to compete directly with SpaceX’s Starlink, marking a new chapter in the race for high-speed satellite internet.
🚀 Amazon Leo Ultra: The Official Announcement
- Amazon introduced Leo Ultra, the most advanced antenna in its Amazon Leo line (formerly Project Kuiper).
- It delivers download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 400 Mbps, significantly surpassing Starlink’s current high-performance kit, which tops out at 400 Mbps.
- The service is aimed at businesses and governments, with direct integration into Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling secure private connections, dedicated VPNs, and direct links to data centers.
- Its robust design eliminates moving parts, withstands extreme conditions, and reduces maintenance costs.
- Currently, Leo Ultra is in a private preview program, with companies like JetBlue, Hunt Energy Network, and Connected Farms testing the technology. Commercial expansion is expected in 2026.
⚡ The Impact on Starlink
The arrival of Leo Ultra introduces a serious competitor to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service led by Elon Musk:
- Speed and capacity: While Starlink plans to reach 1 Gbps only by 2026 with its upcoming V3 satellites, Amazon is already offering that theoretical capacity today.
- Enterprise vs. consumer focus: Starlink has positioned itself in the residential and rural market, while Amazon targets corporations and governments, offering advanced security and direct AWS integration.
- Tech rivalry: The competition between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk intensifies. Amazon is betting on a satellite ecosystem tied to its cloud services, while SpaceX seeks to maintain leadership with its massive low-Earth orbit satellite network.
- Tesla connection: Although Tesla doesn’t directly depend on Starlink, its relationship with SpaceX is strategic. Amazon’s expansion with Leo Ultra could pressure Starlink to accelerate improvements, indirectly affecting the connectivity infrastructure Tesla leverages for its vehicles and factories.
📊 Conclusion
The launch of Amazon Leo Ultra represents a direct challenge to Starlink, offering higher speeds, enhanced security, and a corporate-focused approach. The rivalry between Bezos and Musk now extends into global connectivity, with implications that could ripple across the tech industry and even influence Tesla’s ecosystem.
Master