Amazon's Project Kuiper has received regulatory approval from the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to operate a satellite earth station gateway at the National Space Centre Ltd (NSC) in Cork, Ireland. This approval represents an important milestone in Project Kuiper's mission to deliver fast, reliable broadband across Europe and beyond.
To mark the occasion, Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined representatives from the NSC and Amazon at the Elfordstown facility in Midleton for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. "Today's announcement represents an exciting step in Ireland's growing role in the global space economy," said Taoiseach Micheál Martin. "This approval aligns perfectly with our National Digital Strategy to ensure Ireland remains a leader in technology, with high-speed connectivity in every corner of our country by 2028. We welcome this partnership between the National Space Centre and Project Kuiper and look forward to the positive impact this will have.”
Expanding connectivity
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is an advanced satellite communications network aiming to provide fast, reliable internet to customers and communities around the world. Project Kuiper's network combines a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit with next-generation customer terminals, ground gateways, and global networking and infrastructure. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites that orbit approximately 36,000 kilometers above Earth, Project Kuiper's satellites orbit much closer to our planet at just a few hundred kilometers. This proximity dramatically reduces latency—the time it takes for data to travel between a user and the internet—resulting in a faster online experience.
The gateway at the NSC will serve as a critical link in this network, connecting the orbiting satellites to the internet backbone and enabling the flow of data to and from customers across the region. The license granted by ComReg enables Project Kuiper to operate the new gateway station, which will help allow Amazon to provide high-speed satellite broadband directly to customers in Ireland—connecting homes, businesses, schools, and community institutions in areas where reliable internet has been difficult to access.
“It’s never been more important for people to have access to high-speed, low-latency internet, and Project Kuiper will play an important role in connecting those beyond the reach of existing networks. We're proud to do our part to help connect customers and communities across the country and thankful for the support of ComReg, the Irish government, and our partners at the National Space Centre in making this possible,” said Alison Dunn, Ireland country manager at Amazon.
Contributing to Europe's space economy
Project Kuiper is making significant investments in Europe's space sector, thanks in part to a record-setting contract with Arianespace for 18 Ariane 6 launches. According to an economic impact study conducted by Oxford Economics:
- Project Kuiper's spending in the EU will contribute €2.8 billion to GDP over the next decade
- This investment will support an average of 3,270 jobs annually across the EU, peaking at 6,610 jobs in 2025
- Project Kuiper is partnering with more than 20 European companies across the space industry value chain
- Approximately 26% of Amazon's publicly announced investments in Project Kuiper will be directed toward the EU space sector
Supporting Ireland's connectivity goals
Ireland's National Digital Strategy aims to ensure all Irish households and businesses are covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028. Project Kuiper can help bring connectivity to the hardest-to-reach parts of Ireland, complementing the National Broadband Plan by offering alternative solutions for areas where traditional infrastructure deployment remains challenging. This facility will be a part of the European infrastructure of Project Kuiper, helping deliver fast, reliable broadband to customers throughout the region.
"National Space Centre is proud to partner with Amazon to deliver Project Kuiper in Ireland. This collaboration highlights Elfordstown's role as a hub for cutting-edge satellite communications and strengthens Ireland's position in the global space sector," said Rory Fitzpatrick, CEO of National Space Centre.
The announcement comes during Irish Space Week (October 4-10, 2025), highlighting the growing importance of the space sector to Ireland's economy and technological development.
Project Kuiper is aiming to deliver service to select customers later this year as part of a commercial beta, and to roll out more widely as it launches more satellites and adds coverage and capacity to the system.
To learn more about Project Kuiper, click here.
