South Africa’s top internet service provider Herotel will distribute Amazon Leo satellite connectivity to residential customers under a new deal with Amazon announced Wednesday.
Herotel is launching its own satellite internet service backed by Amazon Leo connectivity called “evry,” expected to start service in 2027. The service will be supported by Herotel’s local teams and is marketed toward households and small businesses.
Herotel began marketing evry on Wednesday, featuring the Nano and Pro models of Amazon Leo terminals, which support connectivity up to 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps, respectively. Herotel did not disclose service pricing. Herotel stated it currently serves more than 350,000 active customers across more than 550 towns through fiber and fixed wireless networks, with 120 local offices nationwide.
This is Amazon Leo’s first agreement of this kind with a major ISP in Africa. Amazon Leo also has a partnership with remote networking company Vanu, Inc. to provide connectivity in rural parts of Southern Africa.
SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is not authorized in South Africa, where founder Elon Musk was born. Starlink is unable to apply for a license because it does not meet local ownership requirements for minimum 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups
Starlink’s status in South Africa could change, the nation’s Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has expressed interest in changing the law, Connecting Africa recently reported.
Starlink sells direct-to-consumer whereas in this instance with Amazon Leo, service will be sold through a South African company.
“We have always believed that South Africans outside the major metros deserve reliable, affordable internet,” said Van Zyl Botha, CEO of Herotel. “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.”
