Amazon Leo Brings Satellite Internet Connectivity to South Africa Through Herotel Partnership
Amazon Leo has entered a strategic partnership with Herotel, the largest fixed internet service provider in South Africa. This agreement introduces a new satellite internet service named evry. Commercial operations for this service are scheduled to begin in 2027. It targets residential customers in areas where traditional fiber and wireless networks are unavailable or too costly to install due to remote geography and low population density.
Herotel brings significant local reach to this deal, as the provider currently serves more than 350,000 customers across over 550 towns. By integrating Amazon Leo’s satellite network with Herotel’s existing local operations, the project aims to provide installation, maintenance, and customer service to residents in farming communities and small towns. These users often face challenges with reliable internet access because of the difficult terrain found throughout many parts of the country.
The technical design of the Amazon Leo system places satellites in orbit at approximately 590 kilometers above the Earth. This proximity to the ground results in lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites stationed at 35,000 kilometers. The lower orbit allows for clearer video calls, more stable streaming, and improved performance for remote work or online education. Users connect to the service using compact antennas instead of relying on fiber cables.
This partnership marks the first major deployment of the Amazon Leo satellite service in Africa. Both companies state that the move addresses a critical gap in regional connectivity. Data indicates that nearly 25 percent of the population in southern Africa remains outside network coverage today. Projections suggest that satellite systems could generate up to 16.9 billion dollars in annual economic benefits for the region. As Amazon continues to deploy satellites for its network, this collaboration represents a shift in how infrastructure reaches rural populations.