Europe's IRIS² and Amazon Leo take aim at Starlink

The EU expanded its IRIS² satellite network to 348 satellites with first launches in 2029, while Amazon Leo has deployed 396 satellites as of October 2026 and targets a commercial launch in late 2026. Starlink, by contrast, has over 11,000 satellites and more than 12 million subscribers.

• IRIS²: 348 satellites, first launches in 2029
• Amazon Leo: 396 satellites, 3,200 planned by July 2029
• Starlink: over 11,000 satellites and 12 million subscribers
• Leo terminals advertise speeds of 100 Mbps, 400 Mbps and 1 Gbps