Does Kuiper have satcom’s Holy Grail?

A year ago Amazon’s Project Kuiper disclosed progress on a consumer-grade flat panel antenna (FPA) that could be produced for under $400, a milestone that paved the way for billions of dollars in spending on launch contracts. Here at Satellite 2023, Amazon showcased a trio of FPAs – two for consumers, one for enterprise customers – with service start projected for late 2024. The satcom industry for years has attempted unsuccessfully to build FPAs at prices consumers could accept. Why has Amazon succeeded?

- Vertical integration on steroids

- Putting the heavy lifting on the satellite

- Emphasis on simplicity