New Study Funded by Amazon Sees Big Payoff from Satellite Internet

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2026 – A recent study funded by Amazon found that low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites helps address the gaps in global connectivity, bring high-quality internet to underserved communities and has the potential to add millions in revenue.

The study, conducted by Oxford Economics, found that LEO satellite broadband can provide support for between 78 million to 421 million users globally and has the potential to raise global GDP by $32 billion to $863 billion. This projected GDP range is comparable to GDP of a small country like Iceland or to the entire GDP of Saudi Arabia.

LEO satellites have the potential to increase internet speed, provide greater internet access to rural communities, at a reduced launch cost. With reliable, high-speed internet becoming essential to participating in today’s economy, these satellites have the potential to address the issue.