Amazon plans satellite Internet launch In South Africa

Amazon is preparing to bring satellite internet services to South Africa. The company has confirmed that it is preparing to roll out its satellite-based service in the country, with a launch expected later this year. The development brings fresh attention to how connectivity could reach areas that remain underserved by existing networks.

The update came directly from Helen Kyeyune, Amazon LEO’s regulatory lead for sub-Saharan Africa, who shared the company’s plans during ICASA’s public hearings on South Africa’s draft radio frequency plan. Her remarks confirmed that Amazon is preparing to roll out its satellite-based internet service locally through licensed South African partners, with availability expected later this year.

The service will be delivered through Amazon’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, commonly known as Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper). Unlike traditional satellites that sit far from Earth, LEO satellites operate closer to the planet, which helps reduce lag and improve everyday internet use such as video calls, online learning, and cloud-based work. This approach is meant to complement existing fibre and mobile networks, particularly in areas where rolling out ground infrastructure has been slow or costly .

Kyeyune noted that there is already strong interest from firms on the ground, saying there is an appetite from local companies that are already operational and licensed to partner with Amazon to deliver services.

She went on to clarify how those partnerships would work in practice, “As a result, we are partnering with local partners to provide the network and service. The local partners will own the customer and will be responsible for that, in a regulatory manner.

“However, we do take charge of working with the regulator to ensure things like spectrum and other resources can be negotiated and agreed in a manner that supports the delivery of services by the local partners.” She added.

For several years, Amazon has been steadily building its satellite capabilities. In 2025, the company began launching its first full batches of operational satellites into orbit, marking a shift from testing to real deployment. These launches placed Amazon in direct competition with other global satellite internet providers.

Locally, Amazon already has a visible footprint. One of its most notable investments was the launch of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud region in Cape Town, the first AWS region on the African continent. That move brought local data storage and computing power closer to African businesses, startups, and public institutions, reducing reliance on overseas servers and improving performance for users in the region . Over time, AWS expanded its teams, networking services, and partnerships in South Africa, quietly laying groundwork for deeper digital involvement.

On the consumer side, Amazon also launched Amazon.co.za, its local online marketplace, in 2024. This gave South African sellers and shoppers access to Amazon’s retail ecosystem while reinforcing the company’s long-term interest in the market.

South Africa  has one of the most developed internet markets on the continent, yet large parts of the country still struggle with reliable access. Satellite internet could help close that gap by reaching rural communities, farms, schools, and businesses where fibre is limited or mobile coverage is inconsistent. It also adds another option for consumers, which often pushes providers to improve service quality and pricing.

The timing also matters. Other satellite providers, including SpaceX’s Starlink, have been expanding across Africa, though regulatory challenges have slowed their progress in South Africa itself. The arrival of Amazon’s service adds another strong contender in the race to broaden internet access across the region.

For now, Amazon is still building out its satellite constellation, with hundreds of satellites already in orbit and many more planned over the next few years.