South Africa’s Herotel plans satellite internet service backed by Amazon Leo

Details: John Tanner; Category: Satellite Networks; 16 July 2026; 1114 views

Amazon Leo announced on Wednesday it has partnered with South African fixed ISP Herotel to launch a new service called “evry”, powered by Amazon’s LEO satellite network.

The LEO satellite offering will be supported by Herotel’s fibre and fixed wireless networks in more than 550 towns across South Africa, with 120 local offices providing local installation, customer service and field operations for the new service.

“Herotel has spent years building connectivity across South Africa's farming towns, small businesses, and communities on the outskirts, and with Amazon Leo they can now reach even more people,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, in a statement. “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.”

Evry is expected to launch commercially sometime next year, said Herotel CEO and co-founder Van Zyl Botha.

“With evry, powered by Amazon Leo, we will reach the customers that even fibre and fixed wireless cannot serve,” he said. “It no longer matters where you live.”

The Herotel agreement marks Amazon Leo’s first such deal in Africa in terms of providing internet connectivity to end users via a local partner. Amazon Leo’s other Africa-based agreements so far have focused on cellular backhaul.

In March this year, Amazon Leo signed a 4G/5G cellular backhaul deal with Vodafone covering its operations in Africa and Europe. The previous month, it signed an agreement with mobile network equipment and services provider Vanu to provide cellular backhaul for new towers in rural communities across Southern Africa.

Amazon Leo has deployed more than 390 LEO satellites in its constellation to date, which it said is enough to start providing initial service this year across certain latitudes. Amazon Leo added it will continue rolling out more broadly as it adds coverage and capacity to the network.