Amazon has confirmed plans to launch its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband service in South Africa in 2027, positioning the country among its earliest international markets as competition to connect underserved communities across Africa intensifies.
The technology giant said its new satellite internet offering, branded Evry, will be introduced through a partnership with South African internet service provider Herotel, allowing homes and small businesses to access high-speed broadband even in areas where fibre and mobile networks remain limited.
The planned rollout marks an important milestone for Amazon’s $10 billion satellite broadband project, formerly known as Project Kuiper and now renamed Amazon Leo. It also signals the company’s growing ambition to expand digital connectivity across Africa, where millions of people still lack reliable internet access.
Read also: Satellite operators multiply in Africa, as Amazon targets Kenya licence
Unlike rival Starlink, which has struggled to enter South Africa because of licensing requirements, Amazon will launch the service through Herotel, which will obtain and hold the telecommunications licences required by the country’s communications regulator.
“Herotel will acquire all the necessary licensing to launch the service,” Trevor Vieweg, head of Amazon Leo’s global business, said during a media briefing.
The approach enables Amazon to enter one of Africa’s largest digital markets without seeking its own operating licence, reflecting a partnership strategy that could become a model for expansion into other countries with strict telecommunications regulations.
Amazon said Herotel is its first announced partner in South Africa, but the agreement is not exclusive. “We do expect the market and demand is strong, so we will likely work with other partners,” Vieweg said.
Although commercial services will begin in 2027, Amazon is still building its global satellite network. The company began deploying satellites in April 2025 and has completed 14 launches, placing about 390 satellites into orbit. The full constellation is expected to include more than 3,000 satellites.
According to Amazon, the satellites already deployed will allow it to begin offering services in selected parts of the world later this year before expanding into additional markets, including South Africa.
The Evry service will initially offer download speeds of up to 300Mbps using Amazon’s Nano and Pro satellite terminals. The residential Pro terminal can support speeds of up to 400Mbps, while larger enterprise equipment is capable of delivering speeds of up to 1Gbps.
Amazon said its satellites orbit about 590 kilometres above Earth, significantly lower than traditional geostationary satellites, enabling latency of around 50 milliseconds or less. This makes the service suitable for activities such as video conferencing, cloud applications, online education and streaming.
Pricing has not yet been announced, but the company said affordability will be a key part of its strategy.
“If you look at Amazon’s track record, we are very focused on making sure that these services are affordable,” Vieweg said.
For Herotel, the partnership strengthens its long-standing focus on serving communities outside South Africa’s major cities, where extending fibre networks can be costly and time-consuming. Satellite broadband will allow the company to expand coverage to homes, farms and small businesses in remote areas that remain underserved.
The launch also comes at a time when governments and telecommunications companies across Africa are exploring new ways to close the continent’s digital divide. While fibre networks remain the backbone of broadband infrastructure, satellite technology is increasingly viewed as a faster and more cost-effective solution for connecting rural and hard-to-reach locations.
Read also: Nigeria opens its skies to Amazon Kuiper, ending Starlink’s Leo head start
Amazon’s 2027 launch could increase competition in Africa’s emerging satellite broadband market, giving consumers and businesses more connectivity options while encouraging further investment in digital infrastructure.
Beyond the commercial opportunity, the rollout demonstrates that success in Africa’s satellite internet market will depend not only on advanced technology but also on building partnerships that align with local regulatory requirements. As more global satellite operators target the continent, Amazon’s strategy may offer a roadmap for entering complex but high-growth markets without prolonged licensing disputes.
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