Amazon have secured a plot of land in New Zealand for their satellite project. Project Kuiper is set to compete with Starlink, with satellites being launched in 2024. The company sought permission to buy a 500-square-meter site for the project in July.
Reliable and Affordable Internet
The project aims to provide affordable and reliable internet to communities that may be underserved. This could have a huge impact on the online entertainment sector within the country.
With online NZ entertainment set to experience a CAGR rate of 8.40% by 2029, Project Kuiper could have a huge influence when it comes to general accessibility. The project is set to benefit those who download games, and it will also help those who play online casino titles. Currently, there are only six casinos in the country, so people who live in rural areas are reliant on online providers, like Dunder Casino NZ. Online sites also provide a much greater variety of games, across different themes. This helps to provide Kiwis with the chance to access titles such as Deadwood and Blender Blitz, which would not be available at a traditional casino. The boost in internet accessibility is also set to benefit those who have a Netflix NZ subscription.
The main reason for this is that you need a stable internet connection if you want to stream 4K titles. Of course, one thing to take note of is that even though the land is in New Zealand, it’s Amazon’s initiative to develop a large-scale satellite constellation. This is going to provide affordable internet to those across the world, not just in the country.
A Larger Broadband Movement
This project is set to be part of a bigger movement with a number of companies planning to launch constellations to try and expand the amount of broadband coverage. Project Kuiper aims to offer internet from more than 3,000 satellites. These are going to circulate in low Earth orbit, essentially mirroring Starlink from Elon Musk.
The financial terms, and how much the company has paid for the land are yet to be disclosed. The first tests are going to be done in 2025. With Amazon reporting a 10% second-quarter growth, this is great news, to say the least. Amazon’s stock has also grown by up to 27% in the last year. The company is making big moves right now and they are also trying to make sure that they focus on the future as much as possible. When you take into account the fact that they are putting a major focus on their Prime Video and gaming offerings, it makes perfect sense.
If they expand internet coverage then this means that more people can access their platform, which will translate to a bigger boost to their profits. The move to put more satellites into orbit is a wise move by the company and it shows that they are completely invested in the tech market. Only time will tell how much of a boost there’s going to be to global connectivity, but right now, it seems as though things are looking positive.