• Vodafone expands Amazon LEO satellite partnership in Africa

• Satellites to backhaul mobile base stations to core network

• Move targets rural coverage across eight African markets

British telecommunications operator Vodafone, which operates in eight African countries through its South African subsidiary Vodacom, said on Monday, March 2 that it was expanding its partnership with Amazon to use its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

Under the agreement, Amazon’s satellites will connect mobile base stations to Vodafone’s core network. Known as “backhaul,” this technology will complement traditional terrestrial infrastructure based on fiber-optic and microwave links.

“Vodafone is looking to space to connect more mobile base stations to our core network and enhance resilience, even in the most challenging environments. The new Amazon LEO satellite constellation supports our ambition to offer all Vodafone customers reliable, high-speed connectivity, wherever they are,” said Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group.

The move follows a previous agreement signed between the two companies in September 2023. Vodafone has also stepped up similar partnerships with firms including AST SpaceMobile and Nokia, aiming to improve service quality for its 220 million subscribers in Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, including through its stake in Safaricom.

The strategy targets rural, remote and sparsely populated areas, where deploying terrestrial infrastructure remains costly and technically challenging. By using satellites to link base stations to its core network, Vodafone expects to accelerate the expansion of 4G and 5G coverage without waiting for new fiber lines to be built.

In Africa, where wide connectivity gaps between urban and rural areas persist, the development represents a structural shift. Telecommunications networks are increasingly adopting hybrid models that combine terrestrial infrastructure with satellite capabilities to improve the resilience and reach of digital services.

Other operators are pursuing similar strategies. Airtel Africa, the African unit of India’s Bharti Airtel, partnered in 2022 with European operator Eutelsat-OneWeb, which operates around 650 low Earth orbit satellites. It also signed an agreement with U.S.-based Starlink in December 2025. South Africa’s MTN has also engaged with companies including Lynk Global and Omnispace.

Adoni Conrad Quenum