What we know so far
Amazon will bring its satellite internet service to South Africa in 2027 through an agreement with Herotel, the country’s largest fixed internet service provider, the company announced on Wednesday, 15 July.
Under the deal, Herotel will use Amazon Leo’s satellite technology to power a new consumer service called evry, which is expected to launch commercially in 2027 to connect residential customers. Amazon said it is the first Amazon Leo agreement of its kind in Africa.
The service targets a stubborn gap in South African connectivity. Millions of people living on farms, in small towns and in rural communities still lack reliable internet because distance, terrain and low population density make traditional infrastructure impractical and costly, Amazon said in its announcement.
“With evry, powered by Amazon Leo, we will reach the customers that even fibre and fixed wireless cannot serve. It no longer matters where you live,” Herotel CEO Van Zyl Botha said.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi joined Amazon and Herotel representatives for the announcement, according to reporting by the Associated Press, signalling government backing for the deal. No financial details were disclosed.
Why it matters
The agreement makes Amazon the first of the major low-Earth-orbit satellite operators to secure a consumer path into South Africa, a market its rival Starlink has so far been unable to enter.
Starlink, owned by South African-born Elon Musk, is not licensed to operate in South Africa, where licensing rules and ownership requirements have been the subject of an ongoing policy debate. Amazon’s arrival through a licensed local partner sidesteps that route entirely, with Herotel holding the customer relationship and Amazon providing the satellite capacity.
The potential impact on rural connectivity is significant. Amazon cited an Access Partnership report estimating that nearly a quarter of southern Africa’s population remains entirely outside network coverage, and that non-geostationary satellite systems could help generate up to $16.9 billion in annual economic benefits in the region.
David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, said the partnership is aimed at closing that gap. “This collaboration is about breaking down barriers and unlocking opportunity for millions of people who don’t yet have reliable access for work, education, or the services they depend on,” he said.
For Herotel, the deal extends a network built around underserved areas. The company serves more than 350,000 active customers across more than 550 towns through fibre and fixed wireless networks, with 120 local offices nationwide. Amazon said that existing footprint will support evry from day one, providing local installation, customer service and field operations.
Key details and figures
Amazon Leo, previously known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband network. Its satellites orbit approximately 590 kilometres above Earth, far closer than traditional geostationary satellites at more than 35,000 kilometres, which supports lower latency for video calls, streaming, remote work and online learning.
Customers connect through compact antennas, with no need for fibre or fixed wireless infrastructure at their premises.
The network currently has more than 390 satellites deployed, which Amazon says is enough to begin initial service this year across certain latitudes, with broader rollout to follow as coverage and capacity grow.
The Herotel agreement is one of two Amazon Leo moves in Africa announced around the launch. Amazon is also working with Vanu Inc., a US-based provider of mobile network equipment, to bring cellular connectivity to rural communities across the continent, starting in South Africa.
Amazon framed the announcement as an extension of a South African presence spanning more than two decades, which includes the establishment of its Amazon Web Services infrastructure in Cape Town and the launch of its local retail marketplace.
Pricing for evry has not been announced, and neither company has said how many customers the service is targeting at launch.
What happens next
Evry is expected to launch commercially in 2027, with Herotel’s local offices handling installation and support. The companies have not announced a more specific launch date or coverage schedule.
Between now and then, Amazon Leo will continue expanding its constellation. The company has said it plans to accelerate its satellite production and launch cadence, and coverage of southern latitudes will determine when South African service can begin in earnest.
Key questions remain open. Pricing will determine whether the service reaches the rural households it is aimed at, and the regulatory treatment of satellite services in South Africa remains under discussion. Whether Starlink eventually secures a South African licence would also change the competitive picture.
For now, the practical milestone to watch is Herotel’s commercial launch of evry in 2027, which would make satellite broadband available to South African homes through a local provider for the first time at national scale.
