TL;DR
- Conflict of interest allegations surrounding Jeff Bezos.
- SpaceX was excluded due to rivalry with Amazon.
- Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to rival SpaceX’s Starlink.
- Amazon’s satellite launch is set for later this month.
In a legal arena filled with complexity and intricacy, investors have initiated a legal battle against the corporate giant Amazon. Their grievance centers on the allegation that Amazon, in its pursuit of a launch provider for the satellites essential to its ambitious home internet service, cryptically known as Project Kuiper, failed to adequately entertain competing propositions.
Astoundingly, Amazon’s swift decision to embrace a contract offered by Jeff Bezos’ brainchild, the illustrious Blue Origin startup, came to fruition after a cursory examination lasting a mere hour. This revelation emerges from the perspective of the lawsuit’s primary plaintiff, none other than the venerable Cleveland Bakers and Teamster’s Pension Fund.
The contracts, orchestrating the deployment of the monumental 3,236 satellite constellation, were unveiled through the lens of SpaceNews, a publication ensconced behind a paywall and disseminated via Delaware Business Court Insider.
The legal charge posits a profound ethical conundrum. It asserts that the multifaceted role of Jeff Bezos as the progenitor of both Amazon and Blue Origin has cast a shadow of conflict of interest over the selection process. The lawsuit contends that Bezos, occupying this unparalleled position, possessed the unique ability to “discern and negotiate with launch service providers on behalf of Amazon, while paradoxically negotiating in an adversarial capacity against Amazon on behalf of Blue Origin.”
The lawsuit also claims that SpaceX, a company with an outstanding track record and possibly the most competitive pricing structure in the space launch sector, was disqualified from consideration. This exclusion, it is suggested, emanated from the ongoing rivalry between Bezos and the enigmatic Elon Musk, the founding luminary behind SpaceX.
Unperturbed by these allegations, an Amazon spokesperson offered a robust rebuttal, asserting, “The assertions made in this legal action lack any substantive foundation, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to establish this during the legal adjudication process.”
In a curious turn of events, SpaceX has maintained a conspicuous silence, refraining from immediate commentary on the matter.
Project Kuiper, Amazon’s audacious foray into the realms of satellite-based internet connectivity, is poised to emulate the operational framework of SpaceX’s heralded Starlink service. This implies that Amazon’s venture could potentially deliver internet speeds akin to Starlink’s 90.55 Mbps downstream and 9.33 Mbps upstream, accompanied by a latency interval of 43 milliseconds. Amazon, in a bid to introduce affordability into the equation, aspires to offer its service at a price point of less than $100 per month.
Amazon is diligently preparing for the imminent launch of its maiden satellites, an event scheduled for later this month. This inaugural voyage will afford Amazon the invaluable opportunity to put its service through rigorous testing before embarking on a full-fledged production phase slated for 2024.
source(S): Cords cutters News
