Herotel will distribute Amazon Leo in South Africa

[mylesillidge]

South African Internet giant launching Amazon Leo

Residential and business broadband provider Herotel will distribute the Amazon Leo satellite Internet service in South Africa from 2027.

Herotel confirmed it was appointed as the first authorised Amazon Leo distributor in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 July 2026.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Oh dear...

 

[neoprema]

Wait till the cadres hear about this one…

 

[Solitude]

I wonder what the pricing would be like.

 

[Sworaxe]

Amazon LEO is the actual name? Horoscope gurls will love it.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Amazon LEO is the actual name? Horoscope gurls will love it.

They can also call it Amazon LION, that would have a more Effriken flavour to it.

 

[quovadis]

So let me get this straight ...

LEO satellite internet is coming to South Africa as evry powered by Amazon distributed by Herotel owned by Vumatel sitting inside Maziv which also owns Dark Fibre Africa, SADV and Britelink MCT controlled by CIVH controlled by Remgro with Vodacom owning 30% of Maziv and Remgro separately owning 30% of SEACOM.

Finally, competition

 

[Jam Sandwich]

What speeds will this give us?

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

So let me get this straight ...

LEO satellite internet is coming to South Africa as evry powered by Amazon distributed by Herotel owned by Vumatel sitting inside Maziv which also owns Dark Fibre Africa, SADV and Britelink MCT controlled by CIVH controlled by Remgro with Vodacom owning 30% of Maziv and Remgro separately owning 30% of SEACOM.

Finally, competition

Not competition, more like Ramadingong and friends got lots of brown envelopes.
Elawn wouldn't stoop that low, instead he said to them "p1ss off with your begging bowl, Cyril"

 

[JerryMungo]

Oh dear...

...here comes @The Gilded to complain.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Not competition, more like Ramadingong and friends got lots of brown envelopes.
Elawn wouldn't stoop that low, instead he said to them "p1ss off with your begging bowl, Cyril"

so is that the real reason or cause Elon is formerly a South african PTA boy.

 

[JerryMungo]

Not competition, more like Ramadingong and friends got lots of brown envelopes.
Elawn wouldn't stoop that low, instead he said to them "p1ss off with your begging bowl, Cyril"

Why brown envelopes? Amazon already have a BEE entity set up. Unless you meant that.

 

[JerryMungo]

What speeds will this give us?

Much, much faster than the alternative where there's no terrestrial infrastructure.

 

[Johand]

But how can it be - Jeff Bezos is not black. /s

Amazing how Amazon can navigate our regulatory framework before launching a service and Starlink still struggles.

And BTW - I don't think our regulatory environment (including BEE) is more difficult than a South African company trying to set up a telecoms in the US. They have some nasty restrictions of their own.

 

[stefan9]

Not surprised that Amazon got in before elon.

 

[bennyblanco]

Not competition, more like Ramadingong and friends got lots of brown envelopes.
Elawn wouldn't stoop that low, instead he said to them "p1ss off with your begging bowl, Cyril"

Not really, Elon just doesnt want to partner with anyone locally to distribute and Amazon LEO are. Good for them, Elon can fly a kite

 

[ctriaan]

Starlink has over 10,000 satellites.

Leo has 400.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Starlink has over 10,000 satellites.

Leo has 400.

but but but, the one company was willing to pay bribes and the other wasn't.

 

[Stalker]

Wonder how good the coverage will be over SA

 

[Stalker]

≈but but but, the one company was willing to pay bribes and the other wasn't.

They probably did not want brown envelopes but rather Woolworths money bags