Amazon renames Starlink‑rival satellite internet service ahead of Australian launch
Amazon's satellite internet service, which started out as Project Kuiper, has been renamed Amazon Leo 7 years after launch.
We can all agree that Amazon Leo rolls off the tongue a little more easily than Project Kuiper, which was initially used as a code name when the project was still secret.
The new name is a nod to the constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, and the rebranding is another reminder of Amazon trying to battle it out with Elon Musk's Starlink.
Why Amazon Leo will matter to Australians
A few months back (August 2025), NBN announced it had officially signed an agreement with Amazon to offer satellite internet to 300,000 regional, rural and remote Australians.
The plan is for Amazon Leo to launch in Australia around mid-2026.
NBN is in the consultation stage, so there aren't any firm details yet, like what types of plans will be offered and what the hardware costs will be.
But what we do know for certain is that this is part of its work to replace the aging Sky Muster satellites, which are set to retire by 2032.
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"Australians deserve to have access to fast, effective broadband regardless of whether they live in a major city, on the outskirts of a country town or miles from their nearest neighbour. That's what NBN was set up to deliver," Ellie Sweeney, chief executive officer at NBN Co, said when the announcement was first made.
By upgrading to next-generation LEO satellite broadband powered by Project Kuiper [Amazon Leo], we are working to bring the best available technology to Aussies in the bush.
In more recent news, Amazon has also announced a partnership with Australian ag-tech firm Connected Farms as it continues its strategy to end 'digital darkness'.
"We believe everyone in the world should have access to high-speed internet, whether you're a large technology company in a metro area or a farmer or agricultural enterprise in the most remote areas of the world," said Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon LEO business and consumer.
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