Amazon Leo enters SA through Herotel satellite deal
Amazon has partnered with Herotel to bring its LEO satellite broadband service to South Africa by 2027. This move aims to provide internet access to underserved areas while Starlink continues to face regulatory delays in the country.
Why it matters
The entry of Amazon's satellite network into the African market highlights the growing competition in global satellite internet and the challenges of navigating local telecommunications regulations.
Users will connect using compact Amazon LEO terminals, with both the Amazon LEO Pro and Amazon LEO Nano antennas to be offered through evry. (Image source: Amazon) Amazon Leo, the satellite broadband service formerly known as Project Kuiper, is set to make its African debut in South Africa, as Elon Musk's Starlink continues to face regulatory hurdles that have kept it out of the market.
This follows Herotel, a Maziv company, signing a distribution agreement with Amazon Leo. Through its new service, evry , Herotel will bring Amazon Leo-powered satellite internet to residential customers across South Africa.
The companies expect the service to launch commercially in 2027 and potential users can start registering on the evry website.
Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, designed to deliver high-speed internet to areas beyond the reach of fibre and fixed wireless infrastructure.
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