London, March 3, 2026, 14:11 GMT
- Vodafone plans to tap Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellites to connect far-flung 4G and 5G masts, trimming back the need for lengthy fibre lines.
- Germany gets the rollout first, then it’s on to a wider European launch and, eventually, Africa through Vodacom.
- European operators are lining up satellite partners to boost coverage and keep networks resilient, and this deal arrives right in the mix.
Vodafone (VOD.L) has inked an agreement with Amazon.com’s (AMZN.O) low Earth orbit satellite venture, Amazon Leo, aiming to hook up 4G and 5G mobile masts scattered across outlying areas in Europe and Africa. According to Vodafone, the setup can push download speeds to as much as 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), with uploads reaching 400 megabits per second.
The deal zeroes in on a persistent problem for mobile networks—moving data from the tower back to the operator’s core. Rural backhaul isn’t cheap. Fiber might be miles out, and relying on fixed wireless relays only piles on more complexity and cost.
Vodafone says its satellite link could keep sites running even if terrestrial lines go down—for example, when fibre gets knocked out by flooding—letting emergency services maintain a backup data route. The companies are aiming to connect their first mobile sites in 2026, as Amazon Leo brings more coverage and capacity online.
Vodafone’s deal calls for linking up scattered base stations in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, with plans to roll the model out in Africa via Vodacom (VODJ.J). The company pitches this as a shortcut for expanding coverage into hard-to-wire spots, sidestepping limitations of fibre and fixed wireless connections.
Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle said the company is “looking to space” in its push to connect additional base stations and boost network resilience.
“Connectivity shouldn’t depend on where you live,” said Panos Panay, senior vice president at Amazon Devices & Services. He described the Vodafone and Vodacom partnership as a move aimed at reaching rural areas and supporting vital networks when ground infrastructure fails.
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub said the aim is to “bring more people in Africa online,” adding that the company wants to push coverage into remote regions—places where towers are possible, but actually linking them back to the network remains a challenge.
Amazon Leo is planning to deploy over 3,000 satellites in its initial constellation. Vodafone noted there are already 200-plus satellites up and running in orbit and that an enterprise preview kicked off in November. Wider service rolls out as more satellites join the network.
Amazon is bringing in partners to help turn its satellite connections into real-world coverage. On its website, the company said Vanu would deploy Amazon Leo in rural Southern Africa, a region where, according to Amazon, 40% of people don’t have connectivity. Vanu CEO Andrew Beard pointed to “hundreds of millions without any connectivity,” stressing the scale of the gap. Amazon Leo’s Chris Weber said the project requires “boots on the ground” partners to make the network a reality. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-le…
Across Europe, telcos are lining up deals with various satellite providers as they look for stronger coverage and backup options. Orange (ORAN.PA) on Monday brought AST SpaceMobile into its mix—joining names like Eutelsat, SES, Starlink, and Telesat already on its list. The company is eyeing direct-to-device trials in Romania, slated for late 2026. Telefonica and Kyivstar in Ukraine have both revealed satellite tie-ups as well.
Vodafone’s busy on two fronts. There’s satellite backhaul for cell towers, plus a standalone project with AST SpaceMobile targeting direct satellite-to-phone links—no special devices needed, just regular handsets. That launch date? Still up in the air.
The Vodafone-Amazon schedule isn’t locked in yet, hinging on a network that’s still taking shape. Vodafone has pointed to 2026 for initial connections, but after that it’s all about Amazon Leo—how rapidly it can launch more satellites, boost capacity, and set up the ground gateways telecom networks need to actually move the data.
