Kuiper Joins the Satellite Industry Association

Washington, D.C., August 19, 2019 – The Satellite Industry Association today announced that Kuiper Systems LLC (Kuiper), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com Services, Inc. (Amazon), has joined the Satellite Industry Association as its newest executive member.  In July, Kuiper Systems filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authority to launch and operate a Ka-band non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) constellation to provide high-speed broadband services to consumers, businesses, and other customers worldwide. Once deployed, the Kuiper System is to consist of 3,236 satellites in 98 orbital planes at altitudes of 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. This long-term project envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet.

“We are very pleased to welcome Kuiper to the Board of Directors of SIA and to the Association as our newest executive member,” said Tom Stroup, President of the Satellite Industry Association.  “These truly are exciting times in the satellite industry as highly innovative technology leaders look to deploy new satellites and constellations designed to bridge the digital divide both here in the U.S. and around the world.  We look forward to working with Kuiper and their leadership as the Company prepares to roll out its next-generation high speed satellite broadband and global 5G connectivity services.”

About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: AT&T Services, Inc.; The Boeing Company; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Kuiper Systems LLC; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; ; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat, Inc.

SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.;  Airbus Defense and Space, Inc.; Analytical Graphics, Inc.; Artel, LLC; Blue Origin; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Globalstar, Inc.; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; HawkEye 360; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Omnispace; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; Planet; Speedcast Government; SSL; Telesat Canada; and XTAR, LLC.

SIA Affiliate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; AQYR Technologies; COMSAT; Comtech EF Data; Envistacom, LLC; Integrasys LLC, Kencast; NB+C; Newtec; ; Radeus Labs, Inc.; RUAG Space; Sheppard Mullin; and Wiley Rein LLP