Amazon’s Project Leo Seeks 6-Month Extension, Joins Block’s 1,000-Partner Ecosystem
Amazon’s Project Leo requested a six-month FCC extension to deploy 3,236 satellites by August 2027, citing rocket shortages, while SpaceX’s Starlink cuts hardware prices and offers free terminals to distribution partners in developing regions. Block added Amazon as one of nearly 1,000 merchant ecosystem partners, joining QuickBooks and Uber Eats to expand its payment services reach.
1. Kuiper Extension Request
Amazon’s Project Leo, previously called Kuiper, sought a six-month extension from the Federal Communications Commission to launch the remaining 3,236 satellites by August 2027, citing rocket supply shortages and regulatory pacing. SpaceX’s Starlink countered by slashing service prices and providing free hardware to distribution partners, targeting affordability in developing regions, but Elon Musk insists the move is not aimed at Kuiper.
2. Block Partnership Expansion
Block Inc. added Amazon to its payment platform ecosystem, which now nears 1,000 partners including QuickBooks and Uber Eats. This integration allows Amazon merchants to adopt Block’s payment solutions and could create cross-selling opportunities for Amazon Web Services and fulfillment offerings through Block’s network.