Amazon Leo to Integrate with Third-Party Antennas for Enterprise and Government Use

Amazon's satellite internet service, Leo, is set to introduce a modem module designed to integrate with third-party antennas, aiming to meet the specific needs of enterprise and government clients. This development was detailed in a recent regulatory filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Amazon Leo modem module (ALMM) is described as a compact, high-performance unit that embeds the network's intelligence into antennas built by trusted government and third-party vendors. This approach allows customers to use their own antenna hardware to incorporate Amazon Leo's non-geostationary satellite orbit connectivity into existing systems without compromising performance.

By decoupling the modem from the antenna, the ALMM facilitates faster innovation cycles, easier adaptation to specialized mission requirements, and greater resilience to component obsolescence. The modular design enables different government agencies or third-party vendors to develop and certify their own antenna systems tailored for size, gain, or environmental hardening, while maintaining compatibility with the Amazon Leo network through the ALMM interface.

The module is capable of delivering speeds up to 1 Gbps, promising increased flexibility in manufacturing and design options. Traditional satellite dishes often integrate modem and control functions together, which can limit design and upgrade paths. The ALMM's design addresses these limitations by allowing for more adaptable and resilient systems.

Amazon has requested the FCC grant blanket-licensed approval to operate the modem module in fixed positions and while in motion, including on road vehicles, planes, and ships. The device will be available exclusively to government and enterprise customers, not consumers.

This initiative comes as Amazon continues to expand its Leo satellite constellation. As of December 2025, Amazon Leo has launched two prototype satellites and 212 production satellites, with plans to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit. The company aims to provide fast, reliable internet to customers and communities beyond the reach of existing networks.

In the competitive satellite internet market, Amazon Leo faces established players like SpaceX's Starlink, which has over 9 million active users worldwide and is expanding its services to commercial planes and naval ships. By introducing the ALMM and fostering a third-party ecosystem, Amazon Leo seeks to enhance its appeal to enterprise and government sectors, offering tailored solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.

As Amazon continues to build out its satellite network, the company has invested over $10 billion in the Leo constellation and has reserved more than 100 launches to deploy the satellites. However, Amazon has requested a two-year extension from the FCC to meet its deployment deadlines, citing challenges in securing launch capacity.

The introduction of the ALMM represents a strategic move by Amazon Leo to differentiate itself in the satellite internet market by offering customizable and flexible solutions for enterprise and government customers, potentially accelerating the adoption of its services in these sectors.