Amazon Leo Partners Herotel to Launch Satellite Internet Service in S…

Amazon Leo has partnered with South African ISP Herotel to launch evry, a satellite broadband service for underserved rural and remote areas, beginning commercial service in 2027. The deal marks Amazon Leo's first African deployment and will leverage Herotel's existing 120-office network for installation and support. If you sell to rural telecom operators or provide connectivity infrastructure, Amazon just proved it will integrate with incumbents rather than replace them — Herotel gets the technology and the customer base, and you now have a buyer with 350,000 installed premises and 120 local offices that need equipment, installation tools, or field operations software. The launch window is 2027 and South Africa is the beachhead for a continental play.