Africa’s battle for satellite-powered internet has just intensified.
Global telecoms giant Vodafone Group has signed a landmark agreement with Amazon’s Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite network, Amazon Leo, to connect remote 4G and 5G base stations across Europe and, crucially, Africa.
The move sets up a direct competitive dynamic with Elon Musk’s Starlink who have been authorised to operate in about 25 countries across the continent.
Amazon Leo is a new satellite constellation designed to deliver high-speed broadband to areas beyond the reach of traditional fibre and fixed wireless networks.
Built on an initial plan of more than 3,000 satellites, Amazon Leo currently has over 200 satellites in orbit and is progressively expanding coverage. It offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload, performance levels aimed at enterprise-grade and telecom backhaul services.
While Starlink has already established a visible footprint in multiple African countries, targeting households and businesses directly, Amazon Leo is positioning itself as a wholesale infrastructure partner for mobile operators.
Under the agreement, Vodafone will use Amazon Leo to connect geographically dispersed mobile masts back to its core network, eliminating the cost and delays of laying fibre in rural terrain.
Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle revealed that after initial deployment in Germany and parts of Europe, the service will roll out in Africa through Vodacom, Vodafone’s majority-owned African subsidiary.
“Vodafone is looking to space to connect more mobile base stations to our core network, and strengthen resilience even in the most challenging environments. Amazon Leo’s new satellite constellation supports our ambition to give all customers reliable and high-speed connectivity, wherever they are,” she said.
The implications are significant for Africa where Vodacom operates in markets including South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, the DRC, Lesotho and Egypt, serving millions of customers.
Satellite backhaul could accelerate rural coverage, improve network resilience during floods or fibre cuts, and support emergency communications.
Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group, said the partnership aligns with their everyday work to bring more people in Africa online.
“Partnering with Amazon Leo enables us to swiftly deploy mobile connectivity in isolated areas, allowing us to efficiently expand our reach across the continent,” he stated.
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