Amazon announced it will bring its satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, to South Africa in 2027, partnering with local provider Herotel in what the company calls its first such agreement on the continent. The move appears to outpace Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has yet to launch in the country despite operating in roughly two dozen other African nations. Musk has publicly accused South Africa of racial discrimination, blaming affirmative action rules that require foreign telecom firms to grant non-white South Africans a minority ownership stake. The South African government has endorsed Amazon’s expansion, viewing it as a step toward improving digital connectivity. Amazon plans to expand further across Africa through a partnership with Massachusetts-based Vanu Inc., targeting a continent where many rural residents lack fixed internet access.
AP