Verizon Taps Into Amazon’s Satellite Broadband To Bring Access To Rural Areas
Image via Amazon and Verizon
Amazon, which seems to have its finger in nearly every pie, is expanding its empire further by teaming up with Verizon to bring satellite internet to rural areas across the United States.
“We’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to customers and communities who need it most,” said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
Currently, the retail giant is working on Project Kuiper, a mission to launch 3,236 satellites into orbit, which will allow it to provide high-speed broadband to locations all over the globe.
The plan was green-lighted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last year, with Amazon promising to “invest more than US$10 million” in it.
Though the mission hasn’t yet taken off, Kuiper has signed a deal with United Launch Alliance for nine scheduled launches, with the company required to deploy half of its planned system within six years, as per FCC rules.
According to CNBC, the new partnership will allow Verizon to make use of Amazon’s future satellite system to extend its services. Kuiper will add “cellular backhaul solutions to extend Verizon’s 4G/LTE and 5G data networks.”
The pair have committed to working together on “joint connectivity solutions” for a wide array of industries, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, and even transportation.
This announcement comes as Jeff Bezos attempts to take on Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink network, which has already launched 1,740 satellites into orbit.
Recently, it surpassed 100,000 subscribers — meaning Amazon and Verizon certainly have a formidable challenge ahead as they try to break into the market.
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[via CNBC, cover image via Amazon and Verizon]
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