Blue Origin TeraWave Satellite Internet: Bezos Challenges Musk with 6Tbps Network

Jeff Bezos is doubling down on the space race. His space venture, Blue Origin, just announced TeraWave, a massive satellite constellation designed to take on Elon Musk's Starlink and even Bezos's own Amazon.

Blue Origin TeraWave Satellite Internet Specifications

The network, dubbed TeraWave, is specifically targeted at enterprise, data center, and government users. Unlike traditional consumer-focused services, Blue Origin claims it'll provide lightning-fast data speeds of up to 6 terabits per second (Tbps). This is a significant leap in bandwidth capacity for orbital networks.

The company plans to deploy a total of 5,408 satellites across low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO). These satellites will be positioned at altitudes ranging from 100 miles to 21,000 miles. Deployment is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

A Crowded Sky: Competitive Landscape

Bezos's move enters an increasingly competitive market. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, currently leads with over 9,000 satellites and roughly 9 million customers. Meanwhile, Amazon recently rebranded its Project Kuiper to 'Leo', aiming for a constellation of 3,236 satellites.

Interestingly, Blue Origin and Amazon's networks will share some infrastructure. Amazon plans to use Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket for future deployments. However, with TeraWave, Bezos is creating a direct competitor to his former company's satellite division.