What company, in January 2026, announced plans to deploy a new satellite communications network called TeraWave in LEO and medium Earth orbit?

In January 2026, Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, announced its ambitious plans to deploy a new satellite communications network (Review) known as TeraWave. This network is designed to offer ultra-high-speed, symmetrical data connectivity across the globe, primarily targeting enterprise-grade customers, data centers, and government users who require reliable and robust communication for critical operations.

TeraWave will consist of a substantial constellation of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites, strategically positioned in both low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO). This multi-orbit architecture is crucial for delivering its promised performance. The vast majority of the satellites, 5,280, will reside in LEO, handling individual customer connections with speeds up to 144 Gbps via Q/V-band radio frequency links. The remaining 128 satellites in MEO will serve as the network's high-capacity optical backbone, capable of supporting an astonishing 6 terabits per second (Tbps) for massive data transfer and inter-cloud communications.

Unlike consumer-focused satellite internet services, TeraWave is specifically engineered to meet the demanding needs of large organizations. It aims to provide high throughput, symmetrical upload and download speeds, increased redundancy, and rapid scalability, especially in remote or underserved areas where traditional fiber optic infrastructure is costly or impractical. Blue Origin anticipates beginning the deployment of the TeraWave constellation in the fourth quarter of 2027, with its own New Glenn rockets likely playing a significant role in launching these advanced satellites into orbit.