Amazon’s Leo satellite broadband service is officially heading to South Africa after securing a local distribution partnership with internet provider Herotel, paving the way for a 2027 launch.
Herotel will roll out the new satellite internet service under the Evry brand, targeting homes and small businesses across the country. Customer registrations have already opened, with commercial services expected to begin in 2027.
Unlike rival Starlink, which has faced regulatory hurdles in South Africa, Amazon’s entry takes a different approach. Herotel will hold the required licences from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), allowing Amazon Leo to operate through an existing licensed provider rather than applying for its own telecommunications licence.
The move follows Icasa’s recent indication that satellite operators are better positioned to enter the South African market through licensed local partners.
Amazon says South Africa will be among the first countries to receive the service as it continues deploying its low-Earth orbit satellite network. The company has already launched hundreds of satellites and plans to invest more than US$10 billion in the project.
The Evry service is expected to offer download speeds of up to 300Mbps, with low latency designed to support streaming, gaming and remote work, particularly in underserved rural and remote areas where fibre and fixed-wireless networks remain unavailable.
Herotel CEO Van Zyl Botha said the partnership aligns with the company’s mission of connecting communities beyond South Africa’s major metros, adding that the service will help reach customers who have traditionally had limited access to reliable internet.
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