WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) waived a requirement for Amazon to launch half of its satellite broadband constellation by July 2026. The FCC permanently removed the time limit for the 50 percent deployment milestone, while retaining the July 30, 2029 deadline for the full constellation.
The FCC announced the waiver in a letter signed by Jay Schwarz, chief of the FCC Space Bureau. The FCC stated that "Waiver serves the public interest by promoting a second large satellite broadband constellation." It also noted that "At this time, only one operator, SpaceX, is providing broadband to American consumers from low-Earth orbit."
Amazon received regulatory approval for the Amazon Leo satellite network in July 2020. The 2020 FCC authorization required Amazon to launch half of its 3,232 satellites by July 30, 2026, to maintain approval for the rest of the network. Amazon filed an application in January requesting the FCC extend this deployment deadline to July 2028 or waive it entirely.
SpaceX submitted comments to the FCC opposing Amazon's request to extend or waive the 2026 launch deadline. The FCC stated it would temporarily demote the spectral priority of satellites launched after July 2026 if Amazon Leo does not increase its deployment pace.
Amazon has invested more than $10 billion in the Amazon Leo system. Amazon projected in January that it would deploy approximately 700 satellites by July 30, 2026, but current estimates indicate the total will be near 400. Amazon has contracted more than 100 launches for the constellation, with thirteen completed missions deploying 333 satellites since October 2023, including two demonstration units.
United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch 29 Amazon Leo satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the coming weeks. The Ariane 6 rocket is contracted for 18 Amazon Leo launches, with two completed and a third scheduled to carry 36 satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket has completed three missions for the constellation, capable of launching 24 Amazon Leo satellites per flight. Amazon contracted three Falcon 9 launches in 2023 and subsequently added ten more.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket experienced an explosion on its launch pad in Florida on May 28. This incident delayed the deployment of 48 Amazon Leo satellites scheduled for the New Glenn vehicle. United Launch Alliance suspended Vulcan launches to investigate a recurring issue with its solid rocket boosters.