Amazon announced Wednesday it will launch its satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, in South Africa in 2027. The company is partnering with South African internet provider Herotel to roll out the service, marking Amazon's first satellite internet agreement on the African continent.
This launch appears to preempt Elon Musk's Starlink, which has faced regulatory hurdles in South Africa. Musk has publicly criticized the country's affirmative action policies, which require foreign companies in the communications sector to cede minority ownership to Black or other non-white individuals to obtain a license. These regulations stem from the country's apartheid era and are intended to promote opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.
South African Communications Minister Solly Malatsi expressed support for the Amazon deal, appearing alongside Amazon and Herotel representatives at the announcement. Amazon launched its first low-orbit satellites last year and currently has over 390 operational. In contrast, Starlink, which began launching satellites in 2019, has more than 10,000 in orbit and has already launched in approximately two dozen other African nations.
Amazon's venture into South Africa is part of a broader plan to expand its satellite internet service across Africa. The company also intends to collaborate with Vanu Inc., a Massachusetts-based firm specializing in developing internet access in developing countries. The African continent, with over 1.5 billion people, presents a significant market for satellite internet, particularly in rural areas lacking reliable fixed broadband connections.