Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, is moving into the fast-growing satellite communications market with plans to deploy thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, an arena currently led by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
On Wednesday, Blue Origin announced it intends to launch 5,408 satellites to build a new communications network aimed at data centers, governments, and large commercial customers.
Blue Origin’s TeraWave Network Targets High-Speed Data Demand
The network, called TeraWave, is designed to deliver data speeds of up to 6 terabits per second (Tbps) anywhere on Earth, according to the company.
Blue Origin said deployment is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. The system will rely on optical communications, a technology that uses laser-based links to move large amounts of data quickly and efficiently between satellites.
While those speeds far exceed typical consumer internet needs, they could be especially valuable for high-intensity applications such as large-scale data processing, cloud infrastructure, and major government programs. Blue Origin said the network is designed to serve a maximum of about 100,000 customers.
A New Push for Space-Based Infrastructure, Including AI Computing
Blue Origin’s announcement comes as the space industry is increasingly focused on building more advanced infrastructure in orbit, including space-based data centers.
Companies are exploring ways to handle the rising demand for large-scale artificial intelligence computing, which on Earth requires enormous amounts of electricity, cooling, and physical space. With AI adoption expanding across industries, the competition to provide faster and more secure data connectivity is intensifying.
Bezos’ Expanding Satellite Footprint Beyond Blue Origin
TeraWave is not the only satellite initiative connected to Bezos. As executive chairman of Amazon, he is also linked to another satellite constellation effort: Project Kuiper, now operating under the name Leo.
That program is in the early stages of deploying about 3,200 satellites intended to provide broadband internet service to consumers and businesses, similar to existing satellite internet offerings in the United States and around the world.
SpaceX’s Starlink Still Leads the Satellite Constellation Race
Despite Blue Origin’s plans, SpaceX remains far ahead in the race to build global satellite internet and communications infrastructure.
Musk’s Starlink network, which has about 10,000 satellites, is currently the most established constellation in orbit. Starlink is part of a broader shift toward using large fleets of low-orbit satellites, which can provide faster connections and improved security compared with traditional satellite systems placed much farther from Earth.
Low Earth orbit constellations also offer advantages in responsiveness and coverage, helping power everything from remote connectivity to commercial and government communications.
What Blue Origin’s Plan Signals for the Space Communications Market
With the planned TeraWave constellation, Blue Origin is positioning itself to compete in a high-stakes sector where demand for high-speed, secure data transmission is expected to grow sharply over the next decade. If the company meets its 2027 deployment timeline, it could become a major new player in satellite-based communications alongside SpaceX and other emerging networks.