Vodafone Group Plc has partnered with Amazon to leverage Amazon’s Leo low Earth orbit satellite network to connect its 4G and 5G mobile base stations across Europe and Africa, aiming to expand coverage in remote and hard-to-reach areas, according to Reuters.
The deal will enable Amazon Leo’s satellite constellation, which currently comprises over 200 satellites to provide backhaul links capable of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds to cell towers, bypassing the need for expensive terrestrial fibre infrastructure. Initial rollouts are planned in Germany and other European markets this year, followed by deployment across Africa through Vodacom, Reuters reported.
Industry experts say the partnership reflects a broader trend in telecommunications to use non-terrestrial networks to bridge connectivity gaps in regions where building traditional infrastructure is cost-prohibitive. Amazon Leo’s satellite capabilities complement ongoing efforts to close the digital divide, particularly in rural African markets with limited broadband access, according to Amazon News.
Vodafone is simultaneously progressing satellite-to-smartphone services in collaboration with AST SpaceMobile, though a commercial launch date for those direct-to-device offerings has not been confirmed.
