Amazon gets FCC approval to launch 4,500 Leo internet satellites

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The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday it approved Amazon’s

request to deploy 4,500 satellites, expanding the company’s planned constellation as it vies to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The FCC’s approval brings the size of Amazon’s planned constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to roughly 7,700 satellites.

The company has sent up more than 150 satellites since April using a variety of rocket launch providers. Amazon has said its goal is to begin providing satellite internet through its service called Leo later this year. The project was announced in 2019.