Vodafone to Use Amazon Leo Satellites for 1Gbps Mast Connectivity Rollout
Vodafone signed a deal with Amazon’s Leo low Earth orbit satellite network to link 4G and 5G masts in remote Europe and Africa with up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds, avoiding costly fibre builds. The service will launch this year in Germany and other European markets before expanding across Africa via Vodacom, leveraging Amazon Leo’s 200+ satellites and planned launches.
1. Partnership Details
Vodafone will deploy Amazon Leo’s low Earth orbit satellites to connect mobile base stations in hard-to-reach areas, offering download speeds up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds up to 400 Mbps. This satellite link replaces the need for terrestrial fibre, reducing infrastructure costs for 4G and 5G mast connectivity.
2. Rollout Timeline and Capacity
The service is slated to start in Germany and other European countries this year, with a phased rollout across Africa through Vodafone’s Vodacom subsidiary. Amazon Leo’s constellation currently exceeds 200 satellites in orbit, with additional satellites built and ready for launch to scale capacity.