Jeff Bezos declares war on Elon Musk to conquer space.Image: keystone
In the space race of tech billionaires, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is increasing competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system.
01/22/2026, 06:5201/22/2026, 06:52
Bezos’ space company Blue Origin announced a high-speed network for businesses called TeraWave.
The first of the 5,400 satellites planned for this purpose are scheduled to launch into space at the end of 2027. In such systems, technology on the ground communicates directly with the satellites. You can use it to replace traditional telecommunications infrastructure. At the same time, capacities are more limited and response times are somewhat slower. Customers currently need receiving stations with antennas.
Amazon, where Bezos gave up the top job in 2021 but remains the largest shareholder, is already building a Starlink alternative. With over 3,200 satellites, the Amazon Leo system is intended to deliver download speeds of between 100 megabits and one gigabit per second – and would therefore be roughly the same speed as fast Internet lines for private households.
Starlink is operated by Musk’s space company SpaceX and is also expected to be upgraded to speeds of one gigabit per second in the next generation. With TeraWave, Blue Origin promises an even higher speed: for the 5,280 satellites in low orbit, it should be up to 144 gigabits per second. With a further 128 satellites in medium orbit, there is even talk of up to 6 terabits per second – 6,000 times faster than a gigabit line.
With Starlink, SpaceX was a pioneer in fast internet from space. However, Amazon assumed early on that there would be interest in an alternative. Musk and Bezos have been competing with their rocket projects for years.
Starlink controversies
Starlink systems are also used by the Ukrainian army, among others. They were particularly important at the start of the war against aggressor Russia, after the invaders destroyed traditional telecommunications infrastructure. Starlink initially provided the devices itself, but there is now a contract with the Pentagon to supply Ukraine.
Until this contract was concluded, Musk could determine the use of Starlink in the conflict. The tech billionaire told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he refused to activate the Starlink supply near the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula at Ukraine’s request – and thereby prevented an attack on Russian troops stationed there.
Musk is currently arguing with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who does not want to upgrade the low-cost airline’s aircraft for the use of Starlink. O’Leary argues that this would increase fuel costs, but that the airline’s customers do not want to pay extra for internet on the plane. Other airlines – such as Lufthansa – are currently making parts of their fleet fit for Starlink. (sda/dpa)