Amazon Launches Leo Ultra, Competing with Starlink

Amazon has officially launched Leo Ultra, a high-throughput satellite internet service that is set to compete directly with SpaceX's Starlink. The Leo Ultra terminal features impressive capabilities, supporting download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 400 Mbps.

This enterprise-grade terminal is designed for permanent outdoor installation, measuring approximately 20 by 30 inches with a chassis depth of 1.9 inches, and is intended for pole-mounted use. The terminal utilizes Amazon's proprietary silicon and incorporates a full-duplex phased-array system, which allows for simultaneous uplink and downlink functionality.

Leo Ultra is part of Amazon's broader satellite internet initiative, previously known as Project Kuiper, and it marks a significant transition as the company moves forward with its satellite deployments.

As of November 2025, Amazon has launched more than 150 low-Earth orbit satellites, with plans to deploy several thousand in total to achieve global coverage. This initiative aligns with CEO Jeff Bezos's vision to potentially establish space-based data centers within the next 10 to 20 years.

Alongside Leo Ultra, Amazon also introduced two additional terminals: the mid-sized Leo Pro, suitable for portable or vehicle-mounted use, and the compact Leo Nano unit, which is capable of up to 100 Mbps.

All these terminals run on custom silicon developed by Amazon and share a common waveform and protocol stack. Amazon's strategy includes creating a hybrid connectivity layer that integrates directly with AWS infrastructure, featuring support for Direct to AWS links, which allows satellite traffic to bypass the public internet.

Although pricing details for the Leo terminals and service plans have yet to be revealed, it is anticipated that commercial service will begin with select enterprise partners before broader availability in 2026.

Amazon's entry into the satellite internet market comes at a time when competitors like SpaceX's Starlink are expanding their own service offerings, underscoring a rapidly evolving landscape in the satellite communications sector.

With gigabit-class performance and seamless integration with cloud services, Leo Ultra represents Amazon's first complete hardware and network package aimed at the high-end market segment, setting the stage for a competitive rivalry in satellite internet services.