Amazon's satellite internet network, Project Kuiper, aims to bridge the global digital divide by providing fast, reliable broadband to customers and communities around the world. The system is built around a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, and Amazon has tapped hundreds of businesses across the European Union (EU)—including major partners like Arianespace and Beyond Gravity—to deliver on its mission.
A new report by Oxford Economics highlights the significant economic contributions of Project Kuiper to the EU, including in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Spain. Commissioned by Amazon, the study estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partnerships will support thousands of jobs and add billions of euros to the EU’s GDP.
From 2022 to 2029, the report estimates Project Kuiper’s spending in the EU will contribute €2.8 billion to GDP. It will support an average of 3,270 jobs annually over the same period, peaking at 6,610 jobs in 2025. The economic activity generated by these partnerships is expected to contribute over €790 million to government treasuries in the EU. In total, the report estimates 26% of Amazon’s publicly announced investments in Project Kuiper will be directed toward the EU space sector.
Amazon's investments in Project Kuiper are part of a larger economic contribution to the EU, where the company employs over 150,000 people and invested more than €38 billion in 2024 alone (€225bn+ since 2010). These investments generated an additional €29 billion in the EU27's GDP and supported more than 450,000 indirect jobs in areas like construction, infrastructure and logistics, according to estimates by Keystone consulting.
Major partners like Arianespace and Beyond Gravity have direct operations within the EU. Amazon secured 18 launches with Arianespace’s new Ariane 6 rocket to deploy hundreds of Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit and Beyond Gravity manufactures the satellite dispenser systems that will be used across all of Amazon’s 80-plus launches. Kuiper represents the largest contracts these companies have ever signed.
“Project Kuiper will help connect millions of customers across Europe, and plays an important role in our wider commitment to support economic growth and digital inclusion in the EU,” said Martijn van Delden, Head of Europe Consumer for Project Kuiper.
“We’re proud to be working with Arianespace, Beyond Gravity, and other European businesses to deliver on that commitment and contribute thousands of jobs and billions of euros to the EU economy,” added Yohann Benard, Public Policy Director Europe, Digital at Amazon.
Country-specific impact
While our partnership with Arianespace alone spans 13 EU countries and hundreds of businesses in its supply chain, the Oxford Economics report highlights the following economic impact in the below five countries.
France
Project Kuiper is expected to have its largest economic impact in France. Home to ArianeGroup, Arianespace is one of Project Kuiper’s four launch providers.
Oxford Economics estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €1.38 billion contribution to French GDP between 2022 and 2029. Project Kuiper’s launch partners’ activity in France will support an average of 1,590 jobs. The number of jobs stimulated by Project Kuiper’s launch partners in France is expected to peak in 2025—at 3,070—and support a cumulative €363.4 million in tax revenues for French authorities between 2022 and 2029.
Germany
Project Kuiper is expected to have its second largest economic impact in Germany, which contains several sites of ArianeGroup, as well as MT Aerospace, one of ArianeGroup’s key suppliers.
Oxford Economics estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €808.0 million contribution to German GDP between 2022 and 2029. Project Kuiper’s launch partners’ activities in Germany are expected to support 1,010 jobs on average between 2022 and 2029, with this number peaking in 2025 at 2,080. The activity of Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €239.4 million in tax revenues for the German government.
Italy
Italy hosts manufacturing activities of components for the Ariane 6 rocket. Avio, a company specialising in space propulsion headquartered near Rome, produces the carbon-fibre structural body of the engines of the rocket’s boosters, and has said that it is now able to “access new opportunities that would not have been possible before [they] had this opportunity with Amazon.”
Oxford Economics estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €117.0 million contribution to Italian GDP between 2022 and 2029. Project Kuiper’s launch partners’ activities in Italy are expected to support 147 jobs on average between 2022 and 2029, with this number peaking in 2025 at 333. The activity of Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €37.4 million in tax revenues for the Italian government.
Sweden
Beyond Gravity manufactures the satellite dispenser systems used across all of Project Kuiper’s launch providers—the single largest order in its history. Beyond Gravity built a new high-tech manufacturing facility in southern Sweden to support Amazon’s deployment plans, doubling Beyond Gravity’s production capacity for payload dispensers and supporting additional jobs onsite.
Oxford Economics estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €185.7 million contribution to Swedish GDP between 2022 and 2029. The total annual contribution to GDP is expected to peak in 2025 at €42 million. Project Kuiper’s launch partners’ activities in Sweden are expected to support with 141 jobs on average between 2022 and 2029, with this number peaking in 2025 at 270. The activity of Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €57.5 million in tax revenues for the Swedish government.
Spain
Spain is home to several companies involved in the construction of the Ariane 6 rockets. At its recently built facility near Madrid, Airbus supplies large carbon fibre structures for various parts of the Ariane 6 rocket. Spain is also home to Airbus Crisa, a subsidiary of Airbus, and electronics manufacturer based near Madrid that manufactures the core electrical system of the Ariane 6 rocket, which handles functions such as power distribution and on-board computing.
Oxford Economics estimates that Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €84.6 million contribution to Spanish GDP between 2022 and 2029. The total annual contribution to GDP is expected to peak in 2025 at €23.9 million. Project Kuiper’s launch partners’ activities in Spain are expected to support 100 jobs on average between 2022 and 2029, with this number peaking in 2025 at 230. Finally, the activity of Project Kuiper’s launch partners will support a cumulative €21.9 million in tax revenues for the Spanish government.
Learn more
Amazon recently began a full-scale deployment of its satellite constellation, and plans to begin delivering service to customers later this year. To learn more about Project Kuiper, visit https://projectkuiper.amazon.com/.
Hero image: ArianeGroup Holding ©
