Amazon's Project Kuiper Expands to Uzbekistan via Uztelecom Partnership

Amazon is expanding its satellite internet ambitions to Uzbekistan through a partnership with regional internet service provider Uztelecom. The collaboration aims to deliver connectivity to remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country, according to Engadget.

Uztelecom already provides connectivity to 96 percent of communities in Uzbekistan, but the country's mountainous terrain and remote deserts make traditional cabled internet deployment difficult in some locations. Amazon says its satellite service, Project Kuiper, is designed to complement Uztelecom's existing infrastructure and extend connectivity where it is needed most.

Project Kuiper has not yet launched publicly, so a timeline for service in Uzbekistan remains unclear. Amazon is currently testing the service with employees and select enterprise customers, with plans for some type of rollout later this year, Engadget reports.

The company faces a significant gap in satellite deployment compared to SpaceX's Starlink. Amazon has around 400 satellites in orbit and plans for more than 3,000 in the near future. SpaceX, by contrast, currently operates more than 11,000 satellites, according to the report.

Beyond the Uzbekistan partnership, Amazon has been pursuing other satellite internet initiatives. It recently teamed up with Delta to eventually bring satellite internet to flights. The company also acquired Globalstar, which provides Apple's emergency satellite connectivity.

This expansion into Uzbekistan represents Amazon's efforts to extend its satellite internet reach into regions where traditional infrastructure is challenging to deploy. However, the service's lack of a public launch and Amazon's smaller satellite constellation compared to SpaceX suggest that Project Kuiper is still in the early stages of competing in the satellite internet market.

The partnership with Uztelecom highlights the growing interest in satellite internet as a solution for connecting underserved areas. For consumers in Uzbekistan, the service could eventually provide an alternative or supplement to existing internet options, particularly in remote regions. But until Amazon launches the service publicly and details pricing, coverage, and performance, the practical benefits for daily use remain uncertain.

As the satellite internet sector evolves, Amazon's progress will be one to watch, especially given SpaceX's dominant position. The company's ability to scale its satellite network and secure partnerships will determine whether it can become a meaningful competitor in the global satellite internet market.