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Amazon's satellite internet program—once known as Project Kuiper and now rebranded as Amazon Leo—has introduced a new antenna called Leo Ultra. The company claims this terminal is the fastest satellite internet antenna on the market, positioning Amazon as a direct challenger to SpaceX's Starlink.
Leo Ultra specs and product lineup — speed meets variety
Amazon says the flagship Leo Ultra measures roughly 20 by 30 inches and can deliver up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload — numbers that stand out for a commercial satellite terminal. By comparison, Starlink's High Performance kit currently peaks at about 400 Mbps download. While SpaceX has indicated future gigabit-class performance with third-generation satellites, Amazon insists it already has the hardware capable of those speeds.
- Leo Ultra (20 x 30 in): Up to 1 Gbps down / 400 Mbps up — aimed at heavy commercial use.
- Pro (11 in): Around 400 Mbps — a smaller, high-performance option.
- Nano (7 in): About 100 Mbps — designed for light-duty and compact deployments.
Why Amazon is selling more than speed
Beyond raw throughput, Amazon highlights security and cloud integration as major selling points. Unlike legacy satellite links that have shown vulnerabilities when traffic traverses the public internet, Amazon Leo is designed to move data over a private, secure network directly into Amazon Web Services (AWS). That means enterprise customers can send sensitive traffic straight to cloud services without touching the public internet, cutting latency and simplifying network management for regulated or data-sensitive operations.
Who’s testing it and when will it arrive?
The service is currently in a private preview and Amazon expects broader commercial availability next year. The initial focus is on enterprise and government customers rather than consumer retail: partners include airlines like JetBlue for in-flight Wi‑Fi, energy firms, logistics companies, and other industrial operators. Antenna housings are built to withstand rain, wind, and harsh environments—signaling a clear aim at remote and industrial markets as much as traditional broadband users.
Imagine a gigabit-capable terminal on a cargo ship, remote mine site, or commercial aircraft cabin: that's the kind of scenario Amazon Leo is pitching. With multiple antenna sizes and a private AWS-connected backbone, Amazon is betting customers will value an integrated, secure, and high-speed alternative to current satellite broadband options.
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