Amazon Accelerates Asian Satellite Push with Government Partnerships

Amazon is deploying diplomatic firepower across East Asia to secure its $10 billion satellite internet gamble. The company has begun recruiting government relations specialists in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to drive adoption of Project Kuiper—its answer to SpaceX's Starlink constellation.

The initiative faces urgent timing constraints. With just 54 satellites launched against a required 3,236 and a 2026 FCC deadline looming, Amazon is prioritizing high-value government contracts over consumer rollout. Taiwan emerges as a strategic linchpin, where undersea cable cuts—allegedly caused by Chinese vessels—have made satellite backup a national security priority.

Enterprise and public sector deals now take precedence in Amazon's playbook. The tech giant aims to leverage geopolitical tensions and infrastructure vulnerabilities to fast-track regulatory approvals and secure anchor tenants for its space-based broadband network.