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Amazon Kuiper Partners with NBN in Australia
NBN ANNOUNCEMENT
Its official, NBN has partnered with Amazon Kuiper satellite internet broadband from Mid 2026.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is launching a revolutionary global broadband network, using over 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver fast, reliable internet to underserved regions—supported by powerful, affordable new customer terminal devices
Next-Generation Customer Terminals
Three distinct designs will anchor Kuiper’s device portfolio: a high-performance standard model for homes and businesses (under $400, less than 11 inches square, up to 400 Mbps), an ultra-compact model (7-inch square, 1 pound, up to 100 Mbps) for portability and affordability, and a large high-bandwidth terminal (19 x 30 inches, up to 1 Gbps) for enterprise, government, and telecom customers
Cutting-edge antenna technology based on flat, electronically-steered phased arrays track satellites overhead without mechanical parts, allowing terminals to remain compact and user-friendly while supporting high data throughput
Recent innovations enable Kuiper to offer industry-leading price points and performance, surpassing legacy LEO solutions in size, simplicity, and value
Powered by Amazon’s Prometheus Chip
All Kuiper terminals are powered by Prometheus, Amazon’s custom baseband chip[2]. Prometheus combines the capabilities of a high-end 5G modem, a cellular base station, and a microwave backhaul antenna into one integrated chip, enabling powerful two-way communication and efficient network traffic handling
The chip also drives Kuiper’s satellites and ground gateways, supporting onboard traffic processing of up to 1 Tbps per satellite, and connecting seamlessly across the orbital mesh network[2].
Deployment and Impact
Kuiper began launching operational satellites in April 2025; currently about 78 are in orbit, with rapid acceleration in deployment
The network uses high-speed optical inter-satellite links (up to 100 Gbps), global gateway stations, and deep integration with AWS cloud infrastructure for fast, secure, and scalable data delivery worldwide
In Australia, NBN Co is partnering with Amazon to provide wholesale LEO broadband via Kuiper to regional and remote communities starting mid-2026, supporting both residential and enterprise needs and replacing legacy geostationary services
Key Table: Project Kuiper Terminals
| Terminal Model | Dimensions| Weight| Max Speed | Estimated Price | Applications
|----------------------|-------------------------------|-----------|-------------|-----------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Standard Residential | <11 inches sq. × 1 inch thick | <5 lbs| 400 Mbps | <$400| Home, Small Business
| Ultra-Compact| 7 inches sq.| 1 lb| 100 Mbps| Lower cost | IoT, Mobility, Gov, Resi
| High-Bandwidth | 19 x 30 inches| — | 1 Gbps| —| Enterprise, Telco, Government |
Project Kuiper’s customer terminals represent a major step toward affordable, high-capacity satellite Internet for everyone, powered by Amazon’s most advanced communications technologies
