WASHINGTON, D.C.: Amazon plans to begin offering internet service through its Leo broadband satellite network later this year after expanding its constellation to nearly 400 satellites in orbit, marking a major step in its challenge to SpaceX's Starlink network.

The milestone follows the successful launch of 29 additional satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida on July 2. The mission was Amazon's 14th launch in a broader effort to deploy more than 3,200 satellites to provide global broadband coverage from space.

"Still lots of work ahead, including raising all these new satellites to their assigned altitude," Amazon's Leo chief Chris Weber said in a post on X. "But we've completed enough launches for initial service this yr, and future missions just add coverage and capacity."

Weber did not specify where the service would first become available. Initial coverage is expected to begin near Earth's north and south poles before expanding toward the equator as more satellites are deployed.

According to spaceflight analyst and Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell, Amazon now has 394 satellites in orbit out of 398 launched since April 2025.

Leo is being developed as a competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, which has deployed about 10,000 satellites. Like Starlink, Amazon plans to offer broadband services to consumers, governments and businesses, including airlines, using a range of user terminals from laptop-sized devices to larger, higher-capacity units.

Amazon had been targeting a mid-2026 launch for the service and has secured around 100 rocket launches valued at at least $82 billion to build the network.

Most launches have so far relied on ULA's Atlas V rocket because two other launch vehicles in Amazon's deployment plans remain grounded.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded on its launchpad last month, destroying the launch tower and other equipment. Chief Executive Dave Limp said the company expects launches to resume by the end of the year as engineers investigate the cause of the explosion.

ULA's Vulcan rocket, which is scheduled to carry at least 40 Leo missions, also remains grounded following a solid rocket motor separation issue encountered in February. Vulcan uses the same Blue Origin-built BE-4 engines as New Glenn, and its return to flight could be delayed if those engines are found to have contributed to the New Glenn explosion.

ULA spokeswoman Jessica Rye said Blue Origin engineers "are being transparent with us as they work through the investigation. If there are crossover items with the BE-4 engines, we will collaborate with the team to find root cause and address it."

In addition to ULA, Amazon has booked launches with Arianespace's Ariane 6 and SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to continue expanding the Leo constellation.