Amazon has launched its first 27 Project Kuiper internet satellites into low Earth orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. This marks Amazon’s entry into the satellite internet market, directly competing with SpaceX’s Starlink. The launch represents the beginning of a $10 billion project to deploy over 3,000 satellites.
Vodafone and Amazon’s Project Kuiper plan to extend services to Africa, among other regions, once Amazon’s production satellites come online. Project Kuiper aims to increase global broadband access. While Starlink has already made inroads in some African countries, the arrival of Project Kuiper could offer greater competition and potentially lower prices, making internet access more affordable. Other companies are also entering the LEO satellite internet market, including China’s SpaceSail, posing further competition.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper launch signals a new chapter in the race to provide global internet connectivity. If successful, this initiative, along with other emerging satellite internet providers, could significantly improve internet access and affordability in Africa, bridging the digital divide and unlocking new economic opportunities. 
In other news; Dangote Joins World Bank Investment Lab
