SpaceX has named Amazon as an authorised U.S. retailer for Starlink hardware, marking a notable shift in the commercial relationship between the companies as both prepare to compete in the high-speed satellite internet market. Starlink’s support page was recently updated to reflect Amazon’s inclusion alongside Best Buy, Home Depot and Walmart. The decision opens a major online sales channel just as Amazon accelerates its own plans with the upcoming Leo Ultra service aimed at enterprise customers.
The Amazon storefront currently carries select Starlink accessories, including the company’s Wi-Fi router, available through Prime one-day and overnight delivery. Tech reviewers first noticed the listing operating through Oregon-based distributor Virtual Supply, which has previously supplied electronics to large retailers and sold Starlink equipment. The presence of a supplier that has handled Starlink hardware before suggests that stock could expand over time.
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The commercial arrangement appears pragmatic despite a long history of public criticism between SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The original article noted that Musk once alleged that Bezos copied Starlink when Amazon filed for regulatory approval to build its own satellite network. It also pointed out that Musk mocked Bezos during a dispute in 2021 regarding Starlink’s second-generation constellation. Those remarks reflect the background against which the new retail cooperation is taking place.
SpaceX had until now avoided Amazon as a direct distribution channel while promoting Starlink through its own site and big-box stores. In recent months the company has become more assertive in marketing, offering discounts and revised subscription tiers in an increasingly competitive satellite broadband landscape. Making Starlink more accessible through Amazon positions the hardware in front of one of the world’s largest online customer bases.
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The move arrives shortly before the commercial rollout of Amazon Leo Ultra, a high-performance satellite internet tier expected next year that Amazon says is designed for business and government users. The timing places both companies on parallel tracks: one expanding its retail footprint, the other preparing to enter the same market with its first high-speed service.
Source: Starlink