About Project Kuiper vs. Starlink, Internet needs have revolved around the same thing for years- simple, fast, and smooth connection.
While cable and WiFi internet provide the solution, satellite internet is better. Starlink has paved the way with incredible speeds, reaching some of the most remote areas on Earth.
But, we’ve heard rumors of a new competitor slowly creeping up the market.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is the latest alternative to Starlink, at least on paper, with an initial investment of around 10 billion.
This article will give more insights into the tech company and how it intends to shape the market in the next decade.
Project Kuiper vs. Starlink: Satellite Differences
Starlink and Project Kuiper offer internet solutions through LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite constellations.
While Starlink is way ahead with more satellites in space, let’s look at the few differences in satellite technology.
Number of Satellites
Composite Satellite image
Starlink has already deployed over 4,000 satellite constellations in space and is set to roll out more in the next few years.
During these launches, Starlink has released three versions of its satellites- Gen 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0.
The latest model, Gen 2.0, is about 2,760 pounds and has to be launched using the Starlink Starship rocket.
Project Kuiper, however, has not yet launched any satellites but has approvals from the FCC to send roughly LEO 3,276 satellites.
There is scanty information regarding when Amazon will launch satellites or when they’ll be functional, but we believe the first constellation should be in space in late 2023.
Amazon recently shared with the public that a single satellite can produce at least 1 Terabyte per second of data.
Orbit Altitude
As mentioned, Starlink and Project Kuiper have satellites in the Low Earth Orbit(LEO).
This altitude typically means a distance of up to 1,200 miles above the ground.
Technology experts fancy low altitudes for satellites.
It means they have a smooth streaming or gaming session with minimal lags and delays.
For instance, Starlink has a latency of about 20 ms compared to traditional satellite companies, which are way over 600 ms.
Satellite Launches and Deployment
Starlink is ahead of the launching game, with over 40 launches since 2019.
According to the CEO, the company is determined to launch up to 12,000 satellites to reach its full potential.
Project Kuiper still has not launched yet. We expect the company to announce its first-ever launch late in 2023 and a projected 40 satellites to be released during the launch.
Project Kuiper vs. Starlink: Ground Stations
Telecommunication station
Ground stations play a pivotal role when the number of satellites in space reaches a considerable number.
The stations transmit communication from the satellite to the user, acting as a waypoint.
Starlink has deployed 140+ ground stations worldwide, with more being constructed yearly.
Project Kuiper is set to use 12 existing ground stations from AWS.
The ground stations might be on the lower side if the e-commerce mogul intends to launch more satellites in space.
Project Kuiper vs Starlink: User Hardware
In March 2023, Amazon announced a new look at Project Kuiper’s equipment.
It has a slightly similar appearance to Starlink dishes with a flat top and three devices in the package.
Its compact 7-inch square design makes it light, and the business model designed for commercial use measures 19 inches by 30 inches.
The smaller version weighs only 1 pound, while the business model is heavier by a few grams.
Starlink’s equipment consists of a small dish weighing about 10 pounds, a WiFi router, a mounting base, and other accessories.
Starlink’s flat-high performance dish gets the maximum bandwidth from the internet, making it possible to browse on the go (Check out Starlink Roam).
Project Kuiper vs Starlink: Availability
Network connection in the world
Starlink is steadily increasing its customer base to consumers around the globe. Starlink has 1.5 million subscribers and is available in over 40 countries.
It is the current popular provider in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Starlink has expanded its territory to places that have no internet.
For instance, the company launched 51 satellites just to cater to clients in the polar orbit in areas such as Alaska.
Project Kuiper is not yet on the market. Amazon has promised to deploy its first satellites late in 2023.
Nothing else is known to the public about this launch and where it will happen.
Project Kuiper vs. Starlink: Performance
Starlink has had a stellar performance so far regarding internet speeds and coverage.
It has reached over 1 million subscribers, with preliminary reports showing decent speeds even in remote areas.
Speed
The average peak speed for Starlink is between 250 – 500 Mbps, depending on the plan.
Off-peak speeds may vary between 20 – 40 Mbps, with the option to pay extra for Priority Access plans.
Project Kuiper is yet to show its speeds but has announced speeds from 100 – 400 Mbps.
However, it is important to note that Project Kuiper has not yet delivered its promise and has nothing to prove compared to Starlink.
Latency
Latency measures how long a ground station takes to relay data from the end user to the satellite and back.
So, the shorter the distance from the Earth, the shorter the latency. Long latency brings lags and delays to internet systems, even if the data speeds are high.
Starlink offers latency from 20 – 48 ms, which is impressive as per today’s standards.
We are yet to know Project Kuiper’s latency speeds as they still don’t have a single satellite in space.
Project Kuiper vs. Starlink: Costs and Expense
Graphic showing What Is The Real Expense
Knowing the costs and expenses is essential to investors and customers.
During its announcement, Amazon injected a $10 billion investment to kickstart the project.
The funds have gone into designing satellites and building facilities like the 219,000-square-foot research and development facility in Redmond, Washington.
We expect more investments as the company nears the launch and expansion of its territories.
Starlink, however, has surpassed the investment costs with an estimated $30 billion to be invested in the entire fleet.
The Starlink is already in business and making $1 billion-plus in revenue annually.
Starlink hardware costs around $599 for the Residential plan, going as high as $10,000 for the Maritime plan.
Monthly subscription fees vary, but the entry amount is roughly $99.
Conclusion
Starlink indeed has plenty of features to edge out Project Kuiper.
While it may not seem a fair comparison, the SpaceX company is the current best option when it comes to high-speed satellite internet.
Project Kuiper is quite promising, and from the recent announcement, they should offer substantial competition to Starlink.
Also, if it fails to meet its promises this year, we will see more Starlink launches, and the gap might widen.