Amazon Leo satellite internet could challenge SpaceX’s Starlink within the next year as Amazon accelerates the expansion of its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, according to Herotel Chief Executive Officer Van Zyl Botha.

The satellite broadband service, previously known as Project Kuiper, is expected to enter South Africa through Herotel after the country’s largest independent broadband provider, secured a distribution agreement with Amazon. Commercial services are expected to begin in 2027.

Botha said Amazon’s smaller satellite fleet compared with Starlink should not be viewed as a long-term disadvantage, arguing that the company’s financial strength and planned rocket launches could help it rapidly close the gap.

Amazon Leo aims to close Starlink gap

Amazon currently has fewer than 400 production satellites in orbit, compared with SpaceX’s Starlink network of about 10,800 satellites.

However, Botha believes Amazon’s planned deployment programme could significantly expand its constellation.

“They must, of course, launch many rockets,” Botha told RSG Geldsake. “I understand there are already 100 launches booked, which will take them to between 3,600 and 4,000 satellites.”

He said that scale would allow Amazon Leo to offer global coverage and speeds comparable with, or potentially better than, existing satellite broadband providers.

“Within a year, Amazon will catch up with its competition,” Botha said. Herotel is already marketing two Amazon Leo packages on its early registration platform. The Nano package offers download speeds of up to 100Mbps, while the Pro package targets speeds of up to 300Mbps.

Satellite launch delays remain a challenge

Despite Amazon’s ambitions, the company faces significant hurdles before reaching its planned network capacity.

Amazon’s initial constellation is expected to include 3,236 satellites, with further expansion planned from 2029. The company requires at least 578 satellites before beginning initial commercial operations.

The service is expected to launch first in the United States and Europe in 2026. However, delays affecting key launch partners have slowed progress. Amazon’s Blue Origin New Glenn rocket has experienced development setbacks, while United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur has also faced technical challenges.

The company had planned 20 launches in 2026 and another 30 in 2027, but deployment remains behind schedule.

Starlink maintains satellite advantage

While Amazon works to build its network, SpaceX continues to expand Starlink at a much faster pace.

Starlink has deployed thousands of satellites and remains the dominant player in the global satellite broadband market. Its next-generation Starship launch vehicle is expected to increase deployment capacity further by carrying larger satellite batches per mission.

Amazon Leo’s potential advantage could come from capacity. Because Amazon is entering the market later, it may initially have fewer customers sharing available bandwidth. That could allow users to experience competitive speeds despite a smaller satellite fleet.

Herotel expands South Africa broadband reach

Herotel has grown into one of South Africa’s largest independent broadband companies since its founding in 2013.

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

It operates about 2,800 wireless towers and manages more than 100 fibre projects across the country.

Herotel was acquired by Vumatel, a subsidiary of Maziv, which also owns Dark Fibre Africa. Maziv is jointly controlled by Remgro’s Community Investment Ventures Holdings and Vodacom.

Botha co-founded Herotel in 2013 as part of a consolidation strategy for South Africa’s fixed-wireless sector. Under his leadership, Herotel Fibre became one of the country’s leading consumer fibre networks after launching in 2019.