LONDON, March 2, 2026 – Vodafone has signed an agreement with Amazon to use its low Earth orbit satellite system, known as Amazon Leo, to connect mobile masts in remote parts of Europe and Africa.
The deal will allow Vodafone to link hard-to-reach 4G and 5G base stations to its core network without the need for expensive fibre installations.
High-Speed Satellite Backhaul
According to Vodafone, Amazon Leo will provide download speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second and upload speeds of up to 400 megabits per second. The satellite connections will serve as backhaul links, carrying traffic between rural base stations and Vodafone’s wider network infrastructure.
The move is designed to improve connectivity in isolated or geographically challenging areas where traditional fibre deployment can be costly or impractical.
Amazon Leo currently has more than 200 satellites in orbit, with hundreds more prepared for launch, expanding the capacity and coverage of the system.
Vodafone said it will begin deploying the satellite-based links in Germany and other European markets this year. The service will later expand across Africa through its subsidiary Vodacom.
The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward hybrid networks that combine terrestrial and satellite infrastructure to close coverage gaps.
Separate Smartphone Satellite Plans
In addition to connecting mobile masts, Vodafone is also working with AST SpaceMobile on plans to provide direct satellite connectivity to customers using standard smartphones. A launch timeline for those consumer services has not yet been announced.
