Amazon has announced its entry into the high-speed satellite internet arena with “Leo Ultra,” an antenna it claims is the world’s fastest, setting the stage for a direct challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink in serving enterprise and government clients.
The company unveiled Leo Ultra on Monday as its first antenna for its satellite internet service. Amazon asserts the device is the fastest transceiver in production, capable of simultaneous download speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and upload speeds of 400 megabits per second (Mbps).
This performance claim significantly outpaces the current Starlink Performance Kit, which offers a maximum download speed of 400 Mbps. Amazon’s move directly targets the speed capabilities of satellite internet systems.
Leo Ultra is specifically designed for enterprise and government customers. It will support private network services and offer direct integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
The launch has already prompted a response from SpaceX, the developer of Starlink. SpaceX has pledged that its forthcoming V3 satellites will deliver a total bandwidth of 1 terabit per second (Tbps), with gigabit speeds expected for retail customers next year.
Amazon’s Leo Ultra will first be available through a private preview program. A broader commercial launch is slated for next year.
Specific pricing details and a definitive release date for the Leo Ultra have not yet been announced by Amazon.