Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, announced plans to launch over 5,400 satellites to establish a new communications network called TeraWave, positioning itself as a competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink. The company stated that TeraWave will provide continuous internet access globally, with a focus on high-speed data transfer capabilities exceeding those of existing services.
TeraWave aims to cater to data centers, businesses, and governments, differentiating itself from Starlink, which also offers internet and phone services to individual consumers. Blue Origin claims its network will achieve upload and download speeds of up to 6 terabits per second at its peak, significantly surpassing current commercial satellite service offerings.
Despite the ambitious scope of the project, Blue Origin's planned constellation will be smaller than Starlink's existing network, which currently dominates the satellite internet market. Starlink is a division of Musk's SpaceX.
TeraWave also faces competition from Amazon, the technology giant where Bezos remains executive chairman after stepping down as CEO in 2021. Amazon is developing its own satellite venture.
Blue Origin has not yet disclosed the total financial investment required for the TeraWave project. The company's entry into the satellite internet market is expected to further intensify competition and drive innovation in the sector. The long-term impact on market share and pricing remains to be seen as Blue Origin progresses with its launch plans and network deployment.
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