Amazon and SpaceX eye African markets as satellite internet expands

Amazon announced that its Leo satellite internet platform will be introduced in South Africa in 2027 via Herotel, the nation’s largest fixed-line ISP serving more than 350,000 customers in over 550 towns. This marks the first African partnership of its kind for Leo, targeting remote farms and villages where traditional networks are uneconomical. SpaceX’s Starlink already reaches users in 164 markets, with a subscriber base exceeding 10 million and a strong presence in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Both companies are integrated into U.S. defense and intelligence supply chains, prompting worries that their infrastructure could extend American strategic influence into developing economies. While satellite services can bridge connectivity gaps, the affordability of data plans remains uncertain, as illustrated by recent price hikes in Nigeria. The article argues that without robust local ownership and regulatory safeguards, such foreign-run networks could replicate historic patterns of digital colonialism.