<h2 Amazon expands Leo with the biggest dish yet for its Starlink rival
Amazon has rolled out the largest antenna yet for Leo, its project that aims to challenge Starlink. This new dish targets business and government clients, including airlines like JetBlue in the United States. The goal is to offer fast, stable internet from space to big customers who need reliable links in remote locations.
<h2 A dish built for business needs
The latest Leo antenna is designed for enterprise use and can reach up to 1 Gbps in download speed and about 400 Mbps in upload. It also can link straight to Amazon Web Services and other cloud networks. The unit is large, measuring roughly 20 by 30 inches. This makes it a different kind of tool than home gear, built to keep corporate networks connected in hard-to-reach places.
<h2 How Leo’s new option compares to the smaller antennas
Leo’s earlier Pro and Nano antennas measure 11 and 7 inches, respectively. The bigger model hits 400 Mbps downstream, while the Nano tops out around 100 Mbps. Even so, both smaller options can serve well in remote areas where SpaceX’s Starlink shines. The new Leo dish is a step beyond, aimed at users who need near-wireless speeds in tough spots.
<h2 Starlink’s bandwidth baseline vs. Leo’s promise
Starlink can reach about 400 Mbps in ideal conditions, but a lot of its plans sit in the 100–200 Mbps range. That range has become a common sweet spot for many users. The priciest Starlink package typically lands around 135–310 Mbps on its site. The Verge has reported that Amazon is working on a dish capable of 1 Gbps, signaling a push to beat Starlink in more demanding settings.
<h2 Canada’s path and the timing for Leo’s arrival
The big story in North America is Canada’s wait. Leo could come to Canada alongside the U.S. next year, but Canada’s own space effort faces a longer timeline. The Canadian-led company Telesat is still years away from putting low-earth orbit satellites into orbit and won’t start service before 2027 at the earliest. It isn’t clear when it will begin, and it might partner with existing carriers instead of running its own network to compete with Leo and Starlink.
<h2 The bigger picture: how many satellites and who else is trying
Amazon currently operates more than 150 satellites in orbit, while SpaceX runs thousands more. It will be a while before any newcomer can rival Starlink’s global footprint. Still, if your goal is Canada-only coverage, you’d need far fewer assets than these giants to fill the skies. The landscape is shifting, but domination in space takes time and scale.
<h2 Terrestar and the Canadian scramble for mobile and home internet
Terrestar is another Canadian satellite firm aiming to offer mobile connectivity. Its focus isn’t home internet against Leo and Starlink. Instead, it plans to work with a Canadian carrier to challenge Rogers and Starlink’s satellite cell service. This approach keeps the field competitive and gives carriers new ways to reach customers in less covered regions.
Source: Amazon, The Verge
Please note that when you make a purchase through our links at GameHaunt, we might earn a small commission. This helps us keep bringing you the free journalism you love on our site! And don’t worry, our editorial content remains totally unbiased. If you’d like to show some support, you can do so here.
