Amazon recently announced that its Leo satellite internet service will enter South Africa by 2027 through a partnership with Herotel. While this initiative promises to connect rural regions currently outside the reach of traditional fibre or wireless networks, it highlights a growing trend of foreign corporations controlling critical digital infrastructure in the Global South.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has already expanded aggressively across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. These satellite providers offer necessary connectivity to underserved areas, yet they also place massive power in the hands of foreign firms. These companies decide service conditions, manage pricing, and influence how citizens access public services, education, and banking. When one entity owns the connection, cloud storage, and analytics, they gain significant leverage over local governments.
History provides cautionary tales. In the 19th century, colonial companies used infrastructure like railways to extract resources while maintaining control over the network. More recently, initiatives like Facebook’s Free Basics attempted to turn internet access into a gatekeeper model, limiting user options to specific services. Current satellite expansions risk repeating this dynamic. Amazon's integration of its Leo network directly into its AWS cloud services means that data from these nations could be processed abroad, leaving control and profits outside local economies.
Some nations are attempting to push back. Namibia, for example, rejected Starlink's license application due to strict local ownership requirements. South Africa is navigating the balance between allowing necessary infrastructure investments and upholding laws that mandate local participation in the telecommunications sector. Even when local firms handle distribution, the primary control over satellite hardware and software remains with the foreign providers.
To prevent this cycle of digital colonialism, nations must move beyond simple regulation. Regional bodies like the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can coordinate licensing standards, enforce net neutrality, and require technology transfers. Governments should also invest in publicly controlled infrastructure to complement private services. Connectivity is a vital utility, but it must be managed in a way that respects national sovereignty rather than consolidating corporate authority.