The Federal Communications Commission has eliminated the requirement that Amazon launch half of its Leo satellite broadband constellation by July 30, 2026. The waiver gives the company additional time to place more of its spacecraft into orbit without jeopardising its overall authorization.
Amazon received FCC approval for the Leo network in July 2020, with two key milestones: deploying 1,616 of the planned 3,232 satellites by mid‑2026, and having the entire first‑generation fleet operational by July 30, 2029. Recognising that the mid‑2026 target was unlikely, Amazon filed a January request to either push the deadline to July 2028 or remove it entirely.
The commission opted for the latter, stripping the 50 percent deployment deadline while retaining the 2029 deadline for the full constellation. The decision provides Amazon flexibility to pace its launches, but it still must meet the end‑of‑2029 deadline for all first‑generation satellites. Stakeholders will now monitor Amazon’s launch schedule to see how the revised timeline influences the competitive satellite broadband market.
