Amazon Leo Enters Africa with Major Satellite Broadband Deal in South Africa
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Amazon's Low Earth Orbit Satellite Network Targets Millions of Underserved Homes and Businesses
Amazon is taking a significant step into Africa's satellite connectivity market through a new partnership with South Africa's largest fixed internet service provider, Herotel. The collaboration will introduce a new satellite broadband service called evry, powered by Amazon Leo, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2027.
The agreement marks Amazon Leo's first partnership of its kind in Africa, reinforcing the company's strategy to extend reliable broadband to regions where traditional telecommunications infrastructure remains difficult or uneconomical to deploy.
Closing South Africa's Digital Connectivity Gap
Despite years of investment in fiber and wireless infrastructure, millions of South Africans—particularly those living on farms, in remote communities, and in smaller towns—continue to lack dependable internet access. Geographic challenges, sparse populations, and high deployment costs have limited the reach of conventional broadband networks.
Herotel aims to bridge this long-standing connectivity gap by integrating Amazon Leo's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation into its service portfolio. Through the new evry platform, households and small businesses beyond the reach of fiber or fixed wireless networks will gain access to high-speed internet without requiring extensive terrestrial infrastructure.
The initiative represents a major milestone for rural digital inclusion and could significantly improve access to education, healthcare, financial services, remote work, and e-commerce opportunities across underserved regions.
Why Low Earth Orbit Satellites Matter
Unlike traditional geostationary satellites positioned approximately 35,786 kilometers above Earth, Amazon Leo's satellites operate at an altitude of roughly 590 kilometers. This dramatically shorter distance enables much lower latency, creating a broadband experience better suited for modern internet applications.
Users can expect improved performance for activities such as:
High-definition video conferencing
Streaming services
Remote work
Online education
Cloud-based applications
Everyday web browsing
Customers will connect using compact user terminals, eliminating the need for fiber connections or fixed wireless infrastructure at their properties.
Herotel Brings Nationwide Local Expertise
Herotel currently serves more than 350,000 active customers across over 550 towns throughout South Africa. With approximately 120 local offices, the provider has established an extensive operational footprint capable of supporting installation, maintenance, and customer service from the launch of evry.
By combining Amazon Leo's satellite technology with Herotel's existing local presence, the partnership aims to deliver a scalable broadband solution to communities that have remained disconnected from traditional networks.
Strengthening Amazon's Long-Term African Strategy
The Herotel agreement expands Amazon's growing investment in Africa's digital infrastructure. The company has maintained a presence in South Africa for more than two decades and continues to broaden its connectivity initiatives across the continent.
In parallel, Amazon Leo is also collaborating with Vanu, Inc. to extend mobile network coverage to rural African communities, beginning in South Africa. Together, these efforts support a broader objective of improving communications infrastructure in regions where significant portions of the population remain outside reliable network coverage.
Industry analysts believe non-geostationary satellite systems could generate substantial economic value by enabling digital services in underserved markets. Increased connectivity is expected to accelerate business development, education, financial inclusion, and public service delivery across Southern Africa.
Amazon Leo's Expanding Satellite Constellation
Amazon Leo has already deployed more than 390 satellites, providing sufficient capacity to begin initial service across selected regions. As additional satellites are launched, the network's coverage and bandwidth will continue expanding globally.
The Herotel partnership positions South Africa among the early African markets expected to benefit from Amazon's growing LEO broadband infrastructure, highlighting the increasing role satellite communications will play in connecting remote populations where conventional networks remain impractical.