Amazon Leo to launch satellite internet in South Africa in 2027

Amazon’s low‑Earth orbit satellite broadband venture Amazon Leo has signed an agreement with South African fixed‑line provider Herotel to roll out a new residential service called evry in 2027. The partnership aims to connect millions in rural and underserved communities, with Herotel leveraging its network of over 350,000 customers in more than 550 towns to install and support the service.

The deal marks Amazon’s first satellite‑internet agreement on the African continent and is part of a broader rollout that includes partners such as Vanu Inc. and plans for other African markets. Amazon Leo operates more than 390 satellites, far fewer than SpaceX’s Starlink, which still lacks a licence in South Africa due to the country’s requirement that foreign telecom operators allocate a 30 % equity stake to historically disadvantaged groups. Elon Musk has criticized the policy as “racist,” while South Africa’s communications minister Solly Malatsi attended the launch announcement.

Amazon’s entry is seen as a step toward narrowing the digital divide on a continent of over 1.5 billion people, where many areas lack fixed‑line broadband.