Amazon founder – Jeff Bezos’ ‘Amazon Leo’ is set to enter the South African market by launching a fast internet service called ‘evry’. The project will be supported by Herotel’s Fibre and Fixed Wireless Networks on over 550 town across South Africa.
Formerly known as Project Kuiper, Amazon Leo will supply the satellite network, allowing it to legally bypass local regulatory hurdles that have stalled Starlink. The service is slated for commercial launch in 2027 and will primarily target rural communities.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026 the company didn’t disclose the financial terms, yet stated that this is the first Amazon Leo agreement of this kind in Africa.
Target’s Elon Musk’s Starlink
The offer by Amazon came up as Space X’s Starlink still have to secure a licence in South Africa because of local ownership rules.
As per the sources, Amazon launched its first batch of low-Earth orbit satellite last year and said that now it has over 390 satellites deployed, far behind Starlink’s fleet of over 10,000.
Telecom companies in South Africa, including the foreign investments, needs to provide 30% equity to historically disadvantaged groups. The policy is created to mitigate the legacy of racial inequality left by apartheid.
Considering the announcement by America’s largest products shipping company, South Africa born billionaire Elon Musk has refused to cede ownership stakes, calling it the black empowerment policy and as ‘openly racist’.
Elon Musk, who left South Africa in his late teens, repeatedly accused the Pretoria government of discriminating against white people.
Starlink competitor, Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Leo is set to enter the South African market by launching a fast internet service called “evry.”
It will be supported by Herotel’s fibre and fixed wireless networks in more than 550 towns across South Africa. pic.twitter.com/2o4gycsnAR
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) July 16, 2026
About Evry Project Deal
Amazon Leo has partnered with Herotel, South Africa’s largest fixed internet provider, to offer a satellite broadband service called evry from 2027.
Vodacom-linked Herotel, owned by telecommunications infrastructure company Maziv, already serves over 350,000 customers in over 550 towns. It also operates 120 offices across the country, that will give Amazon access to installation teams, customer support, field operations and an existing distribution network.
Under the arrangement, Amazon provides the satellite technology while Herotel brings the service to the South African market. It is a structure that highlights an increasingly important reality for global technology companies entering Africa.
Diverse Partnership
Amazon’s partnership strategy is not limited to Herotel. The company has also reached an agreement with Vodafone to use Amazon Leo to connect mobile base stations in hard-to-reach locations, including through Vodafone’s African subsidiary Vodacom.
This deal targets telecommunications infrastructure rather than individual households, but it reflects the same principle; that Amazon provides satellite capacity while an established operator controls the local network and customer relationships.