Amazon Leo Taps Herotel for South Africa

Amazon Leo partners with Herotel to launch 'evry', bringing satellite internet to underserved areas of South Africa.

Jul 15 at 9:02 AM7 min read

Illustration of Amazon Leo satellites orbiting Earth. — Amazon Leo's satellite constellation aims to provide global broadband access.· Amazon News

Visual TL;DR. SA Digital Divide drives Amazon Leo. Amazon Leo partners with Partners Herotel. Partners Herotel to launch 'evry' Service. 'evry' Service offers Low Latency. 'evry' Service reaches Beyond Fiber Limits. 'evry' Service expected Commercial Launch 2027. 'evry' Service achieves Bridging Divide.

SA Digital Divide: millions of South Africans in rural areas lack broadband connectivity
Amazon Leo: Amazon's satellite internet venture expanding into South Africa with new service
Partners Herotel: collaborating with South Africa's largest fixed internet provider for local distribution
'evry' Service: new service delivering broadband connectivity to homes and small businesses
Low Latency: Leo's closer-to-Earth satellites offer better performance for everyday internet use
Beyond Fiber Limits: reaching areas where traditional fiber and fixed wireless are impractical
Commercial Launch 2027: anticipated start of 'evry' service for customers in South Africa
Bridging Divide: initiative directly addresses significant connectivity gap for millions of South Africans

Visual TL;DRQuickExplainDeeper

Amazon's satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, is set to expand its reach into South Africa through a partnership with Herotel, the nation's largest fixed internet provider. The collaboration will introduce a new service called 'evry,' designed to deliver broadband connectivity to homes and small businesses located beyond the practical limits of traditional fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure.

This initiative directly addresses a significant connectivity gap affecting millions of South Africans in rural communities, including those on farms and in small towns. Herotel will leverage Amazon Leo's constellation of satellites, which orbit much closer to Earth than geostationary counterparts, to offer lower latency for everyday internet use. Commercial launch of evry is anticipated in 2027.

Bridging the Digital Divide

The agreement signifies a major step for Amazon Leo in Africa, marking its first deal of this nature on the continent. Herotel's existing network of over 350,000 customers and 120 local offices will provide a foundation for the rollout, ensuring local installation and customer support.

David Zapolsky, Amazon’s Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, stated that both companies share a mission to empower South Africans with high-speed internet access. He highlighted the potential to unlock opportunities for those currently lacking reliable connectivity for work, education, and essential services.

Van Zyl Botha, CEO of Herotel, emphasized the commitment to serving South Africans outside major metropolitan areas. "With evry, powered by Amazon Leo, we will reach the customers that even fiber and fixed wireless cannot serve. It no longer matters where you live," Botha asserted.

Amazon Leo's expansion into South Africa aligns with broader efforts to improve connectivity across the continent. Amazon is also working with Vanu, Inc. to bring cellular connectivity to rural communities in Africa. The deployment of low Earth orbit satellite internet technologies like those from Amazon Leo is crucial for regions where traditional infrastructure is economically unviable, potentially generating significant economic benefits. While Amazon Leo has deployed over 390 satellites, the service is expected to become broadly available as the network matures.

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