The short version

Key points

  • Project Kuiper has been renamed Amazon Leo, referring to low Earth orbit satellite connectivity.
  • Amazon reportedly has more than 150 satellites in orbit and plans about 3,200 in total.
  • Australia’s fixed broadband ranking rose from 82nd to 48th in the cited global speed index.
  • Telstra, Optus and TPG are creating a shared list of phones that may have problems calling Triple Zero.
  • The LANDFALL spyware campaign exploited a Samsung image-processing flaw, which Samsung patched in April 2025.

Project Kuiper becomes Amazon Leo

Amazon has rebranded its satellite internet project from Project Kuiper to Amazon Leo. The name refers to low Earth orbit, where the planned satellite network will operate, and positions Amazon more directly against SpaceX’s Starlink.

The report says Amazon has already launched more than 150 satellites and plans to deploy about 3,200 in total. The aim is to provide internet connectivity to underserved areas, although launch dates and consumer pricing have not yet been confirmed.

Early partners mentioned in the report include JetBlue for inflight Wi-Fi and Ambient Co. in Australia. Amazon’s service is expected to roll out once enough satellites are in place.

Australia climbs the fixed broadband rankings

Australia has reportedly moved from 82nd to 48th place in the global fixed broadband speed rankings. The improvement is attributed to recent NBN Co upgrades and changes under the Accelerate Great programme, launched in September.

The report says some 100 Mbps plans were increased to 500 Mbps, while 50 Mbps plans were increased to 750 Mbps. It also mentions a new 2 Gbps tier for fibre users. These changes contributed to a rise in average download speeds recorded in October.

The ranking improvement is significant, although 48th place still leaves Australia behind many other countries. The report also questions how many households will choose to pay more than $200 per month for a 2 Gbps service.

Telcos share a Triple Zero device registry

Telstra, Optus and TPG are collaborating on a shared database of phone models that may fail to connect reliably to Triple Zero, or 000. The initiative follows incidents involving emergency calls and is intended to help carriers identify affected devices, warn customers and take further action where necessary.

The report highlights around 70 older Samsung models identified by Telstra as being unable to switch to a working network during an emergency call. These phones were reportedly attempting to use Vodafone’s shutdown 3G network instead.

About 60 of the affected models can reportedly be fixed with a software update, while 11 require replacement. Customers with those devices were given 28 days to update or upgrade before the handsets were to be blocked from the network for safety reasons. The broader industry registry is intended to improve the detection of similar problems across providers.

LANDFALL spyware targeted Samsung phones

Security researchers uncovered a commercial spyware campaign called LANDFALL, which targeted Samsung Galaxy devices through a zero-day vulnerability in image processing. The attack involved malicious code hidden inside DNG image files sent through WhatsApp and other messaging services.

According to the report, the vulnerability was zero-click, meaning a device could potentially be compromised simply by receiving the specially crafted image, without the user tapping or opening it. The spyware could then record calls and microphone audio, access messages, contacts and photos, and track the device’s location.

The campaign targeted models including the Galaxy S22, S23, S24 and Fold devices, with most reported targets located in the Middle East. It appeared to be commercial-grade spyware, potentially intended for use against specific targets by governments or organisations. Samsung patched the vulnerability in April 2025, after the campaign had reportedly operated for about seven months.

TechManPat’s conclusion

I think the most practical takeaway is to keep phones updated and check whether an older handset is affected by the Triple Zero compatibility work. Amazon Leo is a significant competitor to Starlink, but its pricing and launch timing remain uncertain, while the LANDFALL campaign shows why software updates matter even when an attack requires no user interaction.
Source note

This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.