Finance
Vodafone teams up with Amazon's satellites to connect masts in Europe and Africa
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 2, 2026
Quick Summary
Vodafone has partnered with Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, to link 4G and 5G masts in remote Europe and Africa, offering up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds, starting in Germany and expanding via Vodacom across Africa.
Vodafone and Amazon Join Forces to Expand Mobile Connectivity in Remote Regions
Strategic Partnership to Enhance Connectivity in Europe and Africa
Overview of the Vodafone-Amazon Leo Agreement
LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Mobile company Vodafone said on Monday it had signed a deal with Amazon Leo, the U.S. company's low Earth orbit satellite network, to connect 4G and 5G mobile masts in remote areas in Europe and Africa.
Technical Details of the Satellite Connectivity
Amazon Leo will offer connections of up to 1 Gbps for download and 400 Mbps for upload to link Vodafone's network to masts in hard-to-reach locations, saving the expense of installing fibre, Vodafone said.
Implementation Timeline and Geographic Rollout
Vodafone will start using Amazon Leo to connect mobile base stations in Germany and other European countries this year before progressively rolling it out across Africa through its subsidiary Vodacom, it said.
Amazon Leo's Satellite Network Capacity
Amazon Leo has over 200 satellites in orbit and hundreds more built and ready for launch, Vodafone said.
Additional Satellite Connectivity Initiatives
Vodafone separately plans to offer satellite connections to its customers using standard smartphones with its partner AST SpaceMobile, but has yet to set a date for services to begin.
(Reporting by Paul SandleEditing by Peter Graff)
Key Takeaways
- •Vodafone will use Amazon Leo to backhaul connections to remote base stations, reducing costly fibre deployment and providing high-speed links via satellite (up to 1 Gbps down/400 Mbps up)
- •Initial rollout begins in Germany and other European markets in 2026, followed by phased expansion across Africa through Vodacom
- •Amazon Leo currently has over 200 satellites in orbit with hundreds more ready for launch, underpinning the network capacity for continental expansion
Frequently Asked Questions about Vodafone teams up with Amazon's satellites to connect masts in Europe and Africa
1What is the focus of the Vodafone and Amazon satellite deal?
The deal aims to connect Vodafone's 4G and 5G mobile masts in remote parts of Europe and Africa using Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
2Which regions will first benefit from Vodafone's use of Amazon Leo?
Vodafone will begin deploying in Germany and other European countries before expanding into Africa via its Vodacom subsidiary.
3What speeds will Amazon Leo provide for Vodafone's network?
Amazon Leo offers up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload to connect Vodafone's mobile base stations.
4Does Vodafone have other satellite connectivity plans?
Yes, Vodafone also plans to offer satellite connections directly to customers with AST SpaceMobile, though no launch date has been set.
