News FCC relaxes Amazon's satellite internet deadline The retailer had until July 30 to launch 1,600 satellites, but won't have the rocket capacity in time. By Steve Dent June 9, 2026 5:25 am EST Amazon/ULA The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Amazon an extension on its Leo satellite internet deployment, according to a ruling released on June 5 . Amazon was supposed to launch over 1,600 Leo satellites, half of its planned constellation, by July 30th. However, the company requested an extension in January due to rocket capacity issues and changes to its satellite design. "[The] waiver serves the public interest by promoting a second large satellite broadband constellation" along with SpaceX, the FCC wrote in its ruling. "In this case, strict adherence to the rules would curtail Amazon Leo's deployment of its Gen1 constellation by limiting the service it can provide to American consumers.
Such would be contrary to the Commission's mandate under the Communications Act." Amazon's request for an extension was opposed by SpaceX, which complained that the FCC would be giving its rival special treatment. "Amazon failed to mention that over the past six years, it launched barely six percent of the satellites that it pressured the Commission to approve ahead of its competitors," Elon Musk's company said in a protest letter to the FCC . However, Amazon said that its slow pace wasn't due to a lack of satellites but problems getting them into orbit. "No operator could have predicted that all three core heavy-lift launch programs — Ariane 6, New Glenn, and ULA's Vulcan Centaur — would experience repeated, concurrent scheduling slips severe enough to exhaust the buffers Amazon Leo had built in," the company said.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2190255/fcc-relaxes-amazon-leo-satellite-launch-deadline/
Such would be contrary to the Commission's mandate under the Communications Act." Amazon's request for an extension was opposed by SpaceX, which complained that the FCC would be giving its rival special treatment. "Amazon failed to mention that over the past six years, it launched barely six percent of the satellites that it pressured the Commission to approve ahead of its competitors," Elon Musk's company said in a protest letter to the FCC . However, Amazon said that its slow pace wasn't due to a lack of satellites but problems getting them into orbit. "No operator could have predicted that all three core heavy-lift launch programs — Ariane 6, New Glenn, and ULA's Vulcan Centaur — would experience repeated, concurrent scheduling slips severe enough to exhaust the buffers Amazon Leo had built in," the company said.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2190255/fcc-relaxes-amazon-leo-satellite-launch-deadline/