ELCOME Brings Amazon LEO Satellite Connectivity to Maritime Operations
•February 10, 2026
0
Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
By delivering high‑speed, low‑latency connectivity and native AWS integration, the agreement accelerates digital transformation of global shipping and reduces dependence on a single satellite provider, reshaping the maritime communications landscape.
Key Takeaways
- •ELCOME resells Amazon Leo LEO satellite service.
- •Leo Pro offers up to 400 Mbps maritime connectivity.
- •Leo Ultra delivers gigabit download speeds for enterprise vessels.
- •Integrated AWS private link secures ship‑to‑cloud data transfer.
- •Multi‑orbit redundancy reduces reliance on single satellite provider.
Pulse Analysis
The maritime industry has long struggled with patchy broadband, relying on geostationary satellites that suffer from high latency and limited bandwidth. Low‑Earth‑Orbit constellations promise a paradigm shift, delivering near‑real‑time connectivity across the globe’s oceans. Amazon’s Leo network, originally unveiled as Project Kuiper, is now moving beyond terrestrial pilots into commercial shipping. Partnering with ELCOME, a provider already managing connectivity for more than 5,000 vessels, gives Amazon an immediate foothold in a market that values reliability as much as speed.
The Leo Pro and Leo Ultra terminals are built around electronically steered phased‑array antennas, eliminating moving parts that traditionally wear out in harsh sea conditions. Leo Pro caps at 400 Mbps, sufficient for crew welfare applications and basic telemetry, while Leo Ultra pushes download rates to 1 Gbps and 400 Mbps uploads, enabling high‑definition video, advanced analytics, and real‑time remote monitoring. Crucially, both devices embed AWS PrivateLink, allowing vessels to tunnel data directly into a customer’s isolated cloud environment without traversing the public internet. This secure, low‑latency pipeline supports everything from predictive maintenance to digital twins of ship systems.
The ELCOME‑Leo alliance also reshapes the competitive dynamics of the LEO market. Until now, SpaceX’s Starlink has dominated maritime contracts, but Amazon’s projected global oceanic coverage by 2027 offers a credible alternative. By providing multi‑orbit redundancy—allowing ships to switch between Starlink, Leo, or other constellations—operators gain greater sovereignty over communications and mitigate service outages. As more fleets adopt cloud‑native workflows, the demand for secure, high‑throughput satellite links will accelerate, positioning Amazon Leo and its reseller network as pivotal enablers of the next generation of smart shipping.
ELCOME Brings Amazon LEO Satellite Connectivity to Maritime Operations
ELCOME, a leading global provider of maritime technology, announced a major authorized reseller agreement with Amazon Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper).
This partnership marks a significant expansion of Amazon’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services into the commercial maritime sector, aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity to fleets operating across all major oceans. ELCOME, which already manages connectivity for over 5,000 vessels, will integrate Amazon’s advanced satellite architecture to support merchant shipping, offshore service vessels, commercial fishing, and the global yachting market.
Deployment of Leo Pro and Leo Ultra Terminals
As part of the agreement, ELCOME will offer two primary tiers of maritime hardware designed for the rigors of the open sea. The Leo Pro terminal serves as a high-performance standard, capable of speeds up to 400 Mbps, while the enterprise-grade Leo Ultra terminal delivers gigabit-class performance with download speeds reaching 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 400 Mbps.
These terminals utilize electronically steered phased-array antennas that eliminate moving parts, ensuring reliable operation in challenging maritime environments. By adding these terminals to its portfolio, ELCOME provides ship operators with a diverse, independent LEO pathway that improves network resilience and availability.
Integration with Modern Digital Workflows and AWS
The arrival of Amazon Leo in the maritime space is expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced digital operations, including real-time telemetry, remote monitoring, and hybrid network architectures. A defining feature of the service is its native integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), allowing vessels to move data securely from remote maritime assets directly to private cloud networks without touching the public internet. This capability is particularly vital for modern shipping fleets that require seamless synchronization between onboard systems and shoreside management networks for optimized application performance and crew welfare.
Strategic Impact on the LEO Satellite Market
This partnership signals the “awakening” of Amazon Leo as a formidable competitor to established players like SpaceX’s Starlink. While Amazon continues to scale its constellation—targeting global oceanic coverage in 2027—early enterprise previews began in late 2025 to validate the network’s production hardware and software. For ELCOME, which was also one of the first authorized resellers for Starlink, the addition of Amazon Leo represents a strategic move to offer its customers “multi-orbit” redundancy. This ensures that maritime operators are not reliant on a single provider, thereby enhancing the sovereignty and stability of global maritime communication infrastructure.
Feature
Amazon Leo Pro (Maritime)
Amazon Leo Ultra (Enterprise)
Peak Download Speed
400 Mbps
1 Gbps
Peak Upload Speed
Not Specified (Standard)
400 Mbps
Connectivity Type
Full-Duplex LEO
Full-Duplex LEO
Physical Design
11″ Square Phased Array
20″ x 30″ High-Performance Array
Primary Use Case
Commercial Fishing / Yachting
Merchant Shipping / Offshore Energy
Cloud Integration
Direct AWS Private Linking
0
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...