Vodafone is entering into a strategic partnership with Amazon Leo , Amazon ’s low-orbit satellite network , to extend 4G and 5G connectivity to remote and hard-to-reach areas in Europe and Africa . The agreement will connect more base stations via satellite backhaul, drastically reducing the cost and time of infrastructure deployment.
In many rural or geographically isolated areas, installing fiber or fixed wireless links to the core network is a costly and time-consuming process. By using Amazon Leo, Vodafone will be able to activate sites faster, bypassing traditional network deployment barriers.
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Amazon Leo: Satellite constellation and performance up to 1 Gbps
Amazon Leo is based on a constellation of thousands of low-Earth-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites, offering high-speed connectivity with download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 400 Mbps. The low orbit means reduced latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites, which is critical for 5G services, video calls, and real-time applications.
Under the agreement, Vodafone will begin connecting geographically dispersed sites to its core network in Germany and other European markets. The rollout will then expand to Africa through Vodacom. The first site is expected to be connected in 2026, with a gradual scale-up as the Amazon Leo constellation grows.
Strengthening resilience and critical services
Beyond coverage, the partnership also focuses on network resilience. In cases of natural disasters, such as floods that can damage fiber optic lines, satellite connectivity can act as an alternative route, keeping critical services and emergency communications active.
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Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Vallesaid the new satellite constellation supports the company's ambition to provide reliable and high-speed connectivity everywhere, even in the most demanding environments. Amazon's Panos Panay said that access to the internet should not depend on where you live, highlighting the importance of working together to connect millions of citizens.
Expansion strategy and Vision 2030 goals
The agreement is aligned with Vodafone's strategy to accelerate the deployment of advanced 5G services in Europe, while for Vodacom it is directly linked to its Vision 2030 goals: 260 million customers, strengthening digital and financial services and increasing smartphone penetration to 75% by the end of the decade.
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosubstressed that the satellite connectivity will enable faster expansion of mobile broadband to isolated communities in Africa, bringing more citizens into the digital ecosystem.
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The technological infrastructure behind Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo already has over 200 satellites in orbit, with hundreds more ready to launch. The service began a pilot with enterprise customers in November 2025 and will gradually expand as capacity and geographic coverage increase.
The system includes more than 3,000 fully deployed satellites, a network of terrestrial gateways and connections fiber optic, as well as specialized antennas – Leo Nano, Leo Pro and Leo Ultra. The entire architecture has been designed and implemented internally by Amazon, with the goal of connecting tens of millions of customers worldwide.
The Vodafone–Amazon Leo partnership confirms that satellite broadband is not just a complementary solution, but a key tool for the expansion of modern mobile networks. In an era where digital access equates to social and economic participation, the convergence of satellite and terrestrial infrastructures is shaping the next chapter of global connectivity.
