TeraWave: Blue Origin Announces New Satellite Communication Network, SpaceX' Starshield Competitor

Jeff Bezo's Blue Origin has unveiled TeraWave, a new satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 terabits per second (Tbps) globally, targeting enterprise, data center, and government customers. The network will consist of 5,408 satellites—5,280 in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 128 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)—deployed via Blue Origin’s reusable New Glenn rocket, with initial launches planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.

The constellation uses optical inter-satellite links for ultra-high-speed data transfer, enabling up to 6 Tbps from MEO satellites and 144 Gbps from LEO satellites via radio frequency (RF) connectivity.

Unlike consumer-focused networks like SpaceX’s Starlink, TeraWave, more like Starshield, is purpose-built for mission-critical operations, offering symmetrical upload and download speeds, enhanced redundancy, and rapid scalability for data centers and government agencies.

TeraWave aims to address growing demand for high-capacity, resilient connectivity driven by AI workloads and cloud migration. It will complement terrestrial fiber by providing connectivity in remote and underserved areas. The network is designed to serve up to **100,000 customers, significantly fewer than Starlink’s millions, reflecting its enterprise and government focus.

Blue Origin’s TeraWave is a strategic move into space-based infrastructure, competing with SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s Leo, and emerging Chinese satellite constellations. The project is led by Lindo St. Angel, former Amazon hardware VP, and Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s CEO and former Amazon Leo lead. The company submitted a regulatory filing to the FCC, seeking spectrum waivers and affirming the system’s compatibility with existing operators.

"TeraWave addresses the unmet needs of customers who are seeking higher throughput, symmetrical upload/download speeds, more redundancy, and rapid scalability," Blue Origin wrote in a blog announcing the project. "It complements fiber backhaul with a unique architecture that delivers both high performance RF and optical connectivity. Globally distributed customers can each access speeds of up to 144 Gbps delivered using Q/V-band links from a constellation of 5,280 LEO satellites, while up to 6 Tbps can be accessed via optical links from 128 MEO satellites."

Limp wrote on X: "What makes TeraWave different? It is purpose-built for enterprise customers.  Unmatched speeds of up to 6 Tbps through a multi-orbit constellation of 5,280 LEO and 128 MEO satellites with both RF and optical links. Globally distributed customers can each access up to 144 Gbps of capacity through Q/V-band links from LEO satellites, while up to 6 Tbps point-to-point capacity can be accessed through optical links from MEO satellites. This provides the reliability and resilience needed for real-time operations and massive data movement. It also provides backup connectivity during outages, keeping critical operations running. Plus, the ability to scale on demand and rapidly deploy globally while maintaining performance. Looking forward to supporting our customers with this capability."