Amazon has been working with an Israeli firm on a customized antenna to hook up with the corporate’s Starlink challenger, Leo.
In a submitting final week with the Federal Communications Fee, Amazon requested for experimental authority to check the tools simply north of Los Angeles. The customized antenna comes from Get SAT, an Israeli developer of smaller satellite tv for pc communication terminals that sells to governments, protection companies, and enterprises. It was reportedly acquired by French aerospace and protection firm Thales in 2024.
Get SAT’s giant catalog of satellite tv for pc antennas contains the Sling Blade Nano, a 9-pound machine that is barely bigger than Amazon’s 2-pound Leo Nano dish, which may supply speeds as much as 100Mbps. Nevertheless, Get SAT’s mannequin seems to be extra rugged and presumably extra highly effective.
Get SAT’s Nano on the left, Amazon’s moveable Leo Nano on the appropriate. (Credit score: Get SAT/Amazon)
“With glorious antenna directivity and acquire, it ensures highly effective transmission and dependable reception even in difficult environments,” Get SAT says in advertising and marketing supplies.
Amazon’s submitting asks to check a pair of customized Nano antennas outfitted with an “Amazon Leo Modem Module” (ALMM) to hook up with the corporate’s upcoming satellite tv for pc web system.
(Credit score: Get SAT)
“Amazon seeks to begin testing as quickly as potential, by April 15, 2026,” the corporate writes. “The customized SATCOM terminal contains a standalone Ka band phased array antenna manufactured by GET Sat related to an Amazon Leo-developed Merlin ASIC modem chip and radiofrequency transceiver assist circuitry on a printed circuit board card,” alluding to the modem module.
The plan is to check the Get SAT tools at mounted areas on the roof of a constructing. Amazon utilized for the experimental authority over a month after the corporate instructed the FCC it was contemplating partnering with third-party satellite tv for pc antenna makers. To take action, the corporate has been creating the Amazon Leo modem module, which a vendor might undertake to attach their dish tools to the Leo satellite tv for pc web system.
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Amazon’s new FCC submitting provides: “The aim of the take a look at is to substantiate the compatibility of the configurations with the Amazon Leo System and to gather efficiency knowledge. Finally, the ALMM is supposed to be built-in with a number of completely different standalone antenna programs manufactured by Amazon companions; this take a look at is a essential step in qualifying our ALMM {hardware} for this objective.”
Opening up the Leo tech to 3rd events would possibly assist Amazon compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which already has an enormous head begin with 10+ million energetic prospects. In December 2022, SpaceX additionally introduced Starshield, a satellite tv for pc communications service that piggybacks on Starlink, however is supposed for presidency and army prospects.
Amazon’s Leo can also be hoping to lure each enterprise and authorities prospects, in addition to common customers. Though Leo has already attracted some notable prospects in Delta Air Traces and JetBlue, the satellite tv for pc web system stays in a personal beta with solely choose enterprise prospects. At the moment, Leo spans about 200 satellites, however Amazon has been speaking up its plan to launch lots of extra within the coming months because it lobbies the FCC to increase a deadline for the satellite tv for pc constellation’s operations.
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About Our Knowledgeable
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
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I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I received my begin as a faculties and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web companies, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am presently primarily based in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, masking the nation’s expertise sector.
Since 2020, I’ve coated the launch and explosive development of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but additionally the regulatory battles over the enlargement of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the trouble to broaden into satellite-based cell service. I’ve combed via FCC filings for the most recent information and pushed to distant corners of California to check Starlink’s mobile service.
I additionally cowl cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this 12 months, the FTC compelled Avast to pay customers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private data to third-party shoppers, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I additionally cowl the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in entrance of a Greatest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how President Trump’s tariffs will have an effect on the trade. I am all the time wanting to study extra, so please soar within the feedback with suggestions and ship me ideas.
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