Vodafone has partnered with Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network, to connect 4G and 5G mobile masts in remote areas across Europe and Africa.
The initiative is designed to improve coverage, lower infrastructure costs, and strengthen network resilience in regions where traditional connectivity is difficult to deploy.
TL;DR
- Vodafone will use Amazon Leo satellites to connect remote 4G and 5G mobile sites.
- The service delivers up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds for backhaul.
- Rollout begins in Germany and parts of Europe, then expands across Africa via Vodacom.
- The deal supports Vodafone’s 5G expansion and Vodacom’s Vision 2030 goals.
Vodafone To Use Amazon Leo Satellites For Remote 4G And 5G Backhaul
Under the agreement, Vodafone will connect geographically dispersed mobile base stations to its core telecom networks using Amazon Leo’s satellite-based connectivity.
The first deployments will take place in Germany and other European countries, with a phased expansion across Africa through its subsidiary, Vodacom.
The companies expect the first of these mobile sites to go live in 2026, with further expansion aligned to Amazon Leo’s growing satellite constellation. Amazon Leo currently has more than 200 satellites in orbit and hundreds more built and ready for launch.
The low Earth orbit network enables high-speed cell site backhaul of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload.
By relying on satellite connectivity, Vodafone can deploy 4G and 5G base stations in rural and previously unserved locations without the time and cost required to install long fibre or fixed wireless links back to its core network.
Strengthening Network Resilience And Emergency Connectivity
In addition to expanding coverage, Vodafone will use Amazon Leo to reinforce network resilience. Satellite connectivity can act as a backup if fibre links connecting mobile masts are damaged or disrupted, including during flooding or other emergencies.
“Vodafone is looking to space to connect more mobile base stations to our core network, and strengthen resilience even in the most challenging environments,” said Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive. “Amazon Leo’s new satellite constellation supports our ambition to give all Vodafone customers reliable and high-speed connectivity, wherever they are.”
“Connectivity shouldn’t depend on where you live. With Amazon Leo, we’re helping bring fast, reliable broadband to places traditional infrastructure can’t easily reach — from rural communities to critical emergency networks,” said Panos Panay, SVP of Amazon Devices and Services.
“Partnering with Vodafone and Vodacom is an important step toward connecting millions more people across Europe and Africa and expanding access to the digital services that power modern life.”
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Vodacom Expansion Aligns With Vision 2030 Targets
Across Africa, Vodacom will lead the rollout as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy, which includes reaching 260 million customers, expanding financial services, and increasing smartphone penetration to 75% by 2030.
“At Vodacom, we are working every day to bring more people in Africa online and in reach of vital digital services,” said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group. “Partnering with Amazon Leo enables us to swiftly deploy mobile connectivity in isolated areas, allowing us to efficiently expand our reach to more customers throughout the African continent.”
Amazon Leo began a preview for enterprise customers in November 2025 and plans a broader rollout as it adds coverage and capacity. The constellation is powered by an initial plan of more than 3,000 satellites and supported by a global network of ground gateway antennas and dedicated fibre infrastructure.
For Vodafone, which serves over 360 million mobile and broadband customers and operates networks in 15 countries, the agreement reinforces its ambition to extend advanced 5G services and close connectivity gaps.
By combining terrestrial networks with satellite backhaul, the company aims to deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity even in the most remote and underserved areas.
The move comes as French telecom giant Orange announced a similar partnership with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, a joint venture between AST and Vodafone, to push direct-to-cell connectivity.
The move will allow Orange smartphone users to connect to satellites without specialized hardware.
Voice, SMS, and data demonstrations are expected to commence in Romania for late 2026.
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