(AWS re:Invent 2025)
Amazon’s satellite internet system is set to launch next year. But like the early days of Starlink, Amazon's service won't offer 100% global coverage at the start.
Although Amazon Leo has been designed to reach across the globe, the system will initially feature a coverage gap for much of Alaska, parts of Canada and northern Europe. That’s because Leo’s first-generation constellation —comprising over 3,200 satellites— will only provide coverage 56 degrees north and south of the equator.
It's not a surprise though. Back in 2019, Amazon's regulatory application for Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, mentioned that "coverage begins at 56˚N and 56˚S latitudes and quickly expands toward the equator as more satellites are launched."
Now Amazon is starting to talk more about Leo when the system has kicked off a private beta for select enterprise customers. Earlier this month, an Amazon Leo presentation included a slide showing where the satellite internet system won’t initially be available.
(AWS re:Invent 2025 )On Sunday, the company’s rocket partner, United Launch Alliance, also tweeted about the subject, and specifically noted the “56 degrees north and south of the equator” coverage area.
You can also see this in the satellite orbits for Leo. A few months ago, satellite industry analyst Carlos Placido constructed a map showing the orbits for the first 100 Leo satellites. As you can see, they don't cross over the polar region.
The coverage is similar to Starlink's initial release, where the company's orbiting satellites focused on first providing service across the US and much of Europe along the equator. In 2022, SpaceX then began publicizing about sending Starlink satellites to orbit over the Earth's polar regions.
Amazon also says Leo will eventually supply 100% global coverage, including the polar regions. To do so, the company is preparing a second-generation satellite constellation for Leo that’ll be even larger at 7,774 satellites. Back in 2021, Amazon filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission about the second-generation network, which is still facing regulatory review.
Despite the coverage gap, a look at a map shows Amazon Leo will still be able to serve across the continental US, Hawaii, along with all of South America, Africa and most of Asia.
Still, it’s clear Amazon faces an uphill battle with SpaceX’s Starlink, which is already serving over 8 million users across the globe by harnessing over 9,000 satellites.
In contrast, Amazon’s Leo currently spans about 150 first-generation satellites, and will also need to secure regulatory permission in various foreign markets before offering service. The company's original FCC application from 2019 also notes: "Service rollout will begin as soon as the first 578 satellites are launched."
A company executive has previously said Leo is targeting a potential launch to customers in Q1, although pricing for consumers remains unclear.