Herotel to launch Amazon Leo satellite internet in South Africa by 2027

Amazon Leo will launch satellite internet in South Africa in 2027 by partnering with licensed ISP Herotel instead of seeking its own licence.

Herotel will sell the service under a new brand called evry. Amazon Leo supplies the satellite connectivity while Herotel manages installations, customer support and sales.

The agreement marks Amazon Leo’s first deal of this kind in Africa . Herotel already holds the necessary ICASA licences and meets Black Economic Empowerment criteria through its parent Maziv. This structure lets Amazon Leo avoid the 30 percent local ownership requirement that applies to new licence holders . Starlink has not launched commercially in the country because it has not complied with that rule . Commercial service under the evry brand is scheduled for 2027 and will target rural communities, farms, game reserves and townships. The offering promises download speeds up to 300 Mbps and latency around 50 ms . Residents can already register interest through Herotel channels.

South Africa requires holders of electronic communications licences to maintain 30 percent ownership by historically disadvantaged South Africans. Amazon Leo is not applying for its own licence and therefore does not need to transfer equity. Herotel’s existing approvals cover the operation. The partnership follows Amazon Leo’s rebrand from Project Kuiper in late 2025. The company currently operates roughly 390 satellites in low Earth orbit at about 590 km altitude .

The model gives global satellite providers a template for entering tightly regulated African markets without first seeking policy changes. Local ISPs gain wholesale capacity while retaining customer relationships. Starlink remains stalled in South Africa, though later policy discussions have considered easing equity rules for infrastructure investments. Amazon Leo’s entry through an established operator puts it ahead of competitors in Africa’s most developed broadband market .

Foreign tech companies can now structure entry around existing local licences rather than direct licensing. South African consumers in underserved areas gain an additional high-speed option. Incumbent fibre and mobile operators face new pressure to accelerate rural coverage. The arrangement keeps higher-margin space infrastructure outside local ownership requirements, which may prompt future regulatory scrutiny .

“This is the first Amazon Leo agreement of this kind in Africa,” an Amazon Leo statement said. “Herotel will use Amazon Leo’s technology to offer a new service called Evry, slated for launch commercially in 2027.”

Regulators in other African countries will watch how South African authorities respond to the partnership. Starlink may explore similar reseller structures or await further policy adjustments. Amazon Leo plans broader commercial service globally from 2026 onward.