Herotel, South Africa’s largest fixed wireless network operator, will distribute Amazon’s Leo satellite internet service in the country from 2027, expanding access to high-speed connectivity in areas where traditional networks remain difficult to deploy.

The company confirmed Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that it had been appointed as the first authorised Amazon Leo distributor in South Africa.

Amazon Leo is a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service designed to provide faster connections with lower delays compared with traditional satellite networks. The service has been positioned as a potential rival to SpaceX’s Starlink, which already operates a large satellite internet network globally.

Herotel expands rural connectivity

Herotel Chief Executive Officer Van Zyl Botha said the company will introduce Amazon Leo under a new connectivity product line called Evry, targeting households and small businesses that lack access to reliable terrestrial infrastructure.

“Evry represents the next chapter in what Herotel has been building for more than a decade,” Botha said.

“We have always believed that South Africans outside the major metros, whether on farms, in small towns, in townships or in rural communities, deserve reliable, affordable internet.”

LEO satellite networks operate closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, allowing them to deliver higher speeds, increased capacity and lower latency. These capabilities support services such as video conferencing, streaming, remote work, online education and smart farming.

Like Starlink, Amazon Leo customers will use a satellite dish installed with a clear view of the sky to connect to the internet. The equipment uses phased-array antenna technology to communicate with satellites orbiting Earth.

Expanding beyond fibre networks

Although fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) has become Herotel’s main business, the company was built through the consolidation of smaller wireless internet service providers that served smaller towns and remote communities.

Many of these regions remain less attractive for traditional fibre operators because of the cost and complexity of building infrastructure.

Herotel used its presence in these markets to expand fibre connectivity and will now add satellite internet as another option for customers outside major urban areas.

The company said Evry will focus on locations where customers need reliable internet but where fibre and fixed wireless networks may not be practical.

Amazon Leo Global Business Head Trevor Vieweg said commercial services are expected to begin in South Africa in 2027 after initial launches in other markets later in 2026.

Customers interested in the service can register their details, including their physical address, through Evry’s website to receive updates when the service becomes available.

Speed, pricing and competition

Amazon Leo is expected to compete directly with Starlink, which has more than 12,000 satellites in operation. Amazon’s satellite network had about 400 satellites in orbit by July 2026, with plans to expand the fleet before its South African launch.

Vieweg said Amazon Leo’s residential service will offer download speeds of up to 400 megabits per second, while business customers could receive speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second. Latency is expected to be around 50 milliseconds.

Pricing details have not yet been announced, although Vieweg said customers should expect pricing that reflects Amazon’s focus on value.

Herotel to manage local rollout

Amazon Leo will rely on Herotel to manage regulatory requirements in South Africa, including licensing approvals from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.

Amazon has also partnered with Vodacom to distribute the service in parts of Africa, although that agreement currently focuses on markets outside South Africa.

Vieweg said Amazon Leo plans to work with additional partners in South Africa over time but will initially concentrate on its relationship with Herotel.

Herotel Chief Commercial Officer Estiaan Ferreira said the partnership followed years of feedback from customers seeking dependable internet access in areas where existing solutions were limited.

“Evry will give farms, game reserves, rural homes and underserved communities a practical way to get online, with Herotel teams available to support them on the ground,” the company said.

Herotel expands satellite network reach

Herotel said Evry will be supported by its existing national operations network, including installation teams, customer service centres, field operations and technical support teams across 120 offices.

The company currently serves more than 350,000 active customers across over 550 towns, cities and suburbs through its fibre and fixed-wireless networks.

Herotel was recently acquired by Maziv, the parent company of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, which is jointly owned by Remgro’s Community Investment Ventures Holdings and Vodacom.

The Amazon Leo rollout will give South Africa’s largest fibre and mobile network groups exposure to another emerging satellite internet technology as competition in the country’s broadband market intensifies.