Jeff Bezos' Blue Originis planning to launch a new satellite communications network, but don't prepare to switch your internet providers just yet.
The spaceflight company won't begin building its new TeraWave orbital constellation inspaceuntil 2027, and the service is not exactly targeted to regular consumers. Instead, Blue Origin is planning to serve data centers, governments and businesses.
The service will be Bezos' latest venture that aims to compete with fellow billionaireElon Musk's SpaceX – which has spent yearsbuilding up its Starlink constellation. As of today,SpaceXbills itself as the only satellite internet provider with its own reusable rocket – its two-stage, 230-foot Falcon 9 –capable of deploying the technology.
But that could soon be changing as Blue Origin develops its own New Glenn rocket that could soon deploy not just Amazon's Leo satellites, but the TeraWave variety as well.
2025 spaceflight in photos. See images of Blue Origin, SpaceX missions
Here's everything to know about TeraWave, and how its fits into Bezos and Blue Origins' plans in the commercial space industry.
Does Jeff Bezos own Blue Origin?
Billionaire Jeff Bezos founded the private space technology company Blue Origin in 2000, which is headquartered in Washington state.
Blue Origin launches New Glenn, New Shepard rockets
Blue Origin has developed two distinct launch vehicles that are both active: the company'stowering New Glenn rocketthat gets off the ground in Florida, and the smaller suborbital rocket that lifts off in West Texas.
Now launched twice from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,the 322-foot New Glennlast got off the ground Nov. 13 ona mission to propel twin NASA ESCAPADE satelliteson a voyage to Mars.
New Shepard, meanwhile, isdesigned to carry up to six civilian passengerson quick trips to the edge of space, where they can experiencea few moments of weightlessness and viewsfrom about 60 miles high. Bezos even boarded Blue Origin's New Shepardfor its maiden crewed voyage in July 2021, which came after the spacecraft flew on 15 flight tests beginning in 2012.
What is TeraWave? What to know about Blue Origin's satellite venture
Blue Origin announced in January 2026 that it is planning to deploy 5,408 satellites in space for its new TeraWave network.
Deployment of satellites is planned to begin in the last quarter of 2027, Blue Origin said in apress release. The service is meant to serve tens of thousands of customers "who require reliable connectivity for critical operations."
The network is designed to have data speeds of "up to 6 Tbps," according to Blue Origin, which is extremely fast by consumer standards, Reutersreported. In fact, that speed would make the network desirable for data processing and government programs, the outlet added.
Amazon also launches satellites into low-Earth orbit
TeraWave is not to be confused witha satellite venture operated by Amazon, which Bezos also founded and owns.
Amazon Leo, which was initially called Project Kuiper, hasdeployed 180 of more than 3,200broadband internet-beaming satellites planned for its first constellation across seven launches in 2025.
The next mission, targeted for Feb. 12, willdeliver another 32 satellitesinto space from French Guiana. The mission, referred to as Leo Europe 1, will be the first to use the French-based Arianespace as a launch provider after the United Launch Alliance and SpaceX were contracted for the first seven missions.
The satellites operate in low-Earth orbit, where they circle Earth at a lower altitude, offering higher connection speeds than satellites further out in space.
As opposed to TeraWave, Amazon Leo will eventually provide internet access to individual consumers and businesses.
Jeff Bezos competes withElon Musk, SpaceX's Starlink
Both TeraWave and Amazon Leo would provide a direct challenge to Starlink – thesatellite service provider operated by SpaceX.
Bezos' ventures, though, have a long way to go to catch up.
Founded by billionaire Elon Musk, SpaceX has spent about six years launching its Falcon 9 rocket to deliver Starlink satellites into a growing constellation now comprised ofnearly 10,000of the spacecraft.
More than seven million customers around the world now pay for the service, according to SpaceX. Government agencies also use Starlink.
Contributing: Reuters
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches satellite venture. What to know
