FCC waives Amazon Leo launch deadline to foster satellite broadband competition

The US Federal Communications Commission has waived the requirement for Amazon to launch half of its Amazon Leo satellite constellation by the original deadline of 30 July 2026. The regulator retained the deadline of 30 July 2029 for the full first-generation constellation of 3,232 satellites but reduced spectral priority for satellites launched after the original milestone to incentivise faster deployment. The decision was announced in a letter signed by Jay Schwarz, chief of the FCC Space Bureau, on Friday.

The waiver removes the time limit for the 50 per cent deployment milestone, which required 1,616 satellites, but keeps the full constellation deadline in place. Amazon filed an application in January 2026 requesting an extension to July 2028 or a full waiver; the FCC chose the latter option. The commission acknowledged that strict adherence to the rules would curtail Amazon Leo’s deployment, noting that at present, only SpaceX is providing broadband to American consumers from low-Earth orbit.

The decision follows significant delays caused by the grounding of key heavy-lift rockets, specifically Blue Origin’s New Glenn and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan. Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded on its launch pad in Florida on 28 May 2026, grounding the vehicle scheduled to launch 48 Amazon Leo satellites. United Launch Alliance has suspended launches of its Vulcan rocket to investigate a recurring problem with its strap-on solid rocket boosters.

Amazon has deployed 333 satellites since October 2023, including two demonstration satellites not part of the operational fleet. The company estimates it will have deployed approximately 400 satellites by the original July 2026 deadline, significantly short of the required 1,616. Amazon has invested more than $10 billion in the system, including hundreds of millions for a new integration hangar and mobile launch platform for ULA’s Vulcan in Florida.

Amazon is currently on pace to launch approximately 80 satellites per month, utilising Atlas V, Ariane 6, and Falcon 9 rockets. One final Atlas V launch is scheduled for the coming weeks, carrying 29 satellites. Europe’s Ariane 6 has two launches completed and a third scheduled for later this month with 36 satellites. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has launched three times for Amazon, carrying 24 satellites per launch. SpaceX filed comments with the FCC opposing Amazon’s application for relief from the deadline.