Amazon on Monday outlined new enterprise-focused hardware and services for Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, and opened an enterprise preview program.
With more than 150 satellites in orbit and initial network testing underway, the program is progressing toward a wider commercial rollout next year. It aims to provide reliable, high-speed connectivity to businesses, government agencies, and organizations operating in locations where existing networks are limited or unavailable.
Amazon Leo Ultra antenna
Amazon has introduced the final production version of Amazon Leo Ultra, an enterprise-grade terminal built for high-performance communication needs. The unit uses a full-duplex phased array antenna capable of up to 1 Gbps download and up to 400 Mbps upload, noted as the fastest commercial phased array antenna currently in production.
The hardware features a weather-resistant design that operates in high and low temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds. The integrated build includes no moving parts, allowing quicker installation and consistent performance across different locations.
Leo Ultra runs on a custom Amazon-designed silicon chip and uses Amazon’s radio frequency (RF) design and signal processing algorithms aimed at maintaining high throughput while keeping latency low. The terminal supports simultaneous upload and download and fits into existing enterprise network setups.
Enterprise networking features
Amazon Leo will include:
- Network management tools
- Advanced encryption
- 24/7 priority customer support
- Support for real-time data processing, remote operations management, and secure field communications
The service offers direct connectivity to AWS, as well as to other cloud and on-premise environments. This enables data transfer between remote sites and private networks without passing through the public internet.
Private networking options
Amazon Leo will provide two primary private networking solutions:
- Direct to AWS (D2A): Customers can connect to cloud workloads via AWS Transit Gateway or AWS Direct Connect Gateway through a point-and-click interface on the Amazon Leo console.
- Private Network Interconnect (PNI): Enterprises and telecom operators can establish private interconnects at major colocation facilities, enabling remote locations to connect directly to data centers or core networks. This approach can reduce deployment time compared to traditional private circuits.
Enterprise preview
Amazon Leo has agreements with organizations across several sectors, including JetBlue, Vanu Inc., Hunt Energy Network, Connected Farms, and Crane Worldwide Logistics.
The enterprise preview will allow selected customers to test the network using production units of Leo Pro and Leo Ultra. It also enables Amazon to collect feedback and adapt solutions for specific industry requirements.
Availability
Amazon has started shipping Leo Pro and Leo Ultra units to participants in the enterprise preview. The program will expand as satellite coverage and network capacity increase ahead of broader availability next year.
Regarding the development, Chris Weber, Vice President of Consumer and Enterprise Business for Amazon Leo, said:
Amazon Leo represents a significant opportunity for businesses operating in challenging environments. From our satellite and network design to our range of high-performance phased array antennas, we’ve built Amazon Leo to support the needs of some of the most complex business and government customers, and we’re focused on providing them with the tools required to run their operations effectively, no matter where they are in the world.