Blue Origin launches TerraWave satellite internet to rival Starlink with 5,400-satellite LEO constellation
Jan 22, 2026
Key Points
- Blue Origin announced TerraWave, a 5,408-satellite LEO constellation targeting enterprise and government customers with 6 Tbps speeds, launching Q4 2027 to challenge Starlink's market dominance.
- The move pits Blue Origin against both Starlink and Amazon's own LEO satellite service, which has deployed 180 satellites and aims for 3,236 total.
- AST Space Mobile's stock surged 14% on the announcement, closing at an all-time high with a $42 billion market cap amid intensifying competition in satellite internet.
Summary
Blue Origin announced TerraWave, a satellite internet network designed for enterprise data centers and government customers. The constellation will include 5,408 satellites positioned in low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit, with first deployments expected in Q4 2027. The system will deliver speeds up to 6 terabits per second.
The move puts Blue Origin in direct competition with Starlink, which operates over 9,000 satellites and serves roughly 9 million customers. It also competes with Amazon's own LEO satellite service, which has deployed 180 satellites since April and is aiming for a 3,236-satellite constellation. Amazon opened an enterprise preview of LEO last November ahead of broader commercial launch.
Bezos predicted in 2024 that Blue Origin would become a larger company than Amazon over time. The company is led by Dave Limp, former Amazon devices chief. Blue Origin recently achieved progress on its New Glenn rocket, successfully landing the booster after a November launch carrying NASA spacecraft. An initial New Glenn launch in January failed to recover the booster for reuse.
The satellite internet market faces growing competition beyond Starlink and Amazon. China is building two competing constellations. Guowang, a state-led effort, aims for 13,000 satellites by 2030 and has deployed roughly 150 so far. Qianfan, a more commercial venture, targets 15,000 satellites by 2030 with around 100 deployed.
AST Space Mobile's stock rose 14% on the announcement, 24% over five days, 35% over one month, and 100% over six months. The company is now trading at an all-time high with a market cap near $42 billion.