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Blue Origin Dives into Satellite Constellation Market with “TeraWave” Network, Challenging SpaceX
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has officially announced its ambitious plan to deploy 5,408 satellites into orbit, establishing a high-speed communications network dubbed “TeraWave.” This move positions Blue Origin as a significant contender in the rapidly expanding satellite constellation market, currently led by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The deployment of the TeraWave satellite network is slated to commence in the final quarter of 2027. Blue Origin highlights the network’s design capacity for “data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth,” a remarkable speed achieved through planned optical communications. This extreme data rate is intended to serve a maximum of approximately 100,000 customers, primarily focusing on data centers, government entities, and large businesses requiring robust data processing capabilities and support for large-scale government programs.
The unveiling of TeraWave comes amidst a growing trend within the space industry to develop orbital data centers. This surge is driven by the escalating demand for large-scale AI data processing, which on Earth consumes substantial energy and resources as artificial intelligence adoption continues to expand.
This new initiative further connects Bezos to the burgeoning satellite internet sector. Amazon, where Bezos serves as executive chairman, is already in the initial stages of deploying its own satellite network, Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), which aims to provide internet services to consumers and businesses with a planned 3,200 satellites.
Currently, Musk’s Starlink network holds the leading position in the global effort to establish space-based internet infrastructure. With approximately 10,000 satellites already in low-Earth orbit, Starlink offers enhanced security and higher connection speeds compared to traditional, higher-orbiting unitary satellites. Blue Origin’s entry with TeraWave signals a heightened competition to meet the evolving demands for global connectivity and data processing from space.