Amazon To Launch Satellite Internet Service In SA

Amazon has announced its first satellite broadband partnership in Africa, selecting South African internet service provider Herotel to distribute its Amazon Leo satellite internet service when it launches commercially in the country in 2027.

Under the agreement, Herotel will offer the satellite broadband service to residential and small business customers through a new consumer brand known as evry. The company will manage customer sales, installations and support, while Amazon will provide connectivity through its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

Customer registration for the service has already opened ahead of the planned commercial launch. According to the companies, the service is expected to deliver download speeds of up to 300 Mbps using Amazon’s Nano and Pro satellite terminals. The partnership marks Amazon’s first satellite internet agreement on the African continent and represents a different market entry strategy from that adopted by rival satellite providers.

Unlike operators that apply directly for telecommunications licences, Amazon will enter the South African market through Herotel, which already holds the necessary licences to provide internet services. This allows Amazon to operate as the wholesale satellite network provider while Herotel remains responsible for customer-facing operations and regulatory compliance.

The arrangement comes as Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, remains unavailable in South Africa due to ongoing regulatory requirements related to local ownership of telecommunications licensees. While discussions around alternative compliance models continue, Amazon’s partnership with an existing licensed provider enables it to establish a commercial presence without requiring a separate operating licence.

Founded in 2013 through the consolidation of more than 30 regional internet service providers, Herotel has built its business by delivering broadband services to smaller towns, rural communities and underserved areas across South Africa. The company is owned by Maziv, the infrastructure group behind fibre network operators Vumatel and DFA.

Amazon Leo, previously known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s satellite broadband initiative aimed at expanding high-speed internet access using a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. The company began deploying satellites in 2025 and plans to build a network of more than 3,000 satellites. While commercial services are expected to begin first in markets including the United States, Canada and parts of Europe, South Africa has been identified as one of the company’s early international launch markets.

The South African partnership also signals Amazon’s broader ambitions for expansion across Africa. Reports indicate the company has already secured regulatory approval in Nigeria and is pursuing licensing in Kenya as it continues to expand its satellite broadband footprint.

The announcement comes as competition intensifies in the satellite connectivity market, with operators exploring different approaches to expanding broadband access across Africa. Alongside traditional satellite broadband services, companies are also developing direct-to-cell technologies that allow standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites in areas beyond terrestrial network coverage.

Neither Amazon nor Herotel disclosed pricing, subscription packages or the financial terms of the partnership. Additional details are expected closer to the planned commercial launch in 2027, when the companies begin rolling out the service to customers across South Africa.