Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network, known as Leo, is coming to South Africa in 2027 after it signed a partnership with local internet service provider Herotel.
The pair will partner to launch a new service called Evry, bringing satellite broadband to homes and small businesses nationwide.
Duncan McLeod, editor of Tech Central, explained that, crucially, Amazon has gone with the partnership route when it comes to the operating license, unlike its direct competitor, SpaceX’s Starlink.
Starlink has been in a years-long standoff with ICASA over its strict interpretation of the Electronic Communications Act.
The Act requires foreign-owned telecommunications companies to have 30% local equity held by historically disadvantaged groups, which Starlink has refused to abide by.
Instead of acquiring its own operating license, Herotel, which already holds an operating license, will act as the distributor for the network.
“The irony of this is that it now looks likely that unless SpaceX changes its approach, it looks likely that Amazon Leo is going to beat Starlink to launch services here.”
McLeod explained that Leo offers a very similar service to Starlink, whereby a terminal is installed to access unlimited satellite-based broadband.
“Starlink is the market leader in satellite broadband services; they have a head start of several years, but Amazon is chasing hard.
“[But] the claims that Amazon is making suggest that this is going to be just as good as Starlink.”
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