Vodafone announced on Monday that it has signed a partnership with Amazon Leo, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network operated by the U.S. tech giant, to connect 4G and 5G mobile towers in remote areas across Europe and Africa. The agreement aims to extend mobile coverage to locations that are difficult to reach with traditional infrastructure, providing an alternative to costly fibre installations.

Through this collaboration, Amazon Leo will deliver high-speed connections of up to 1 Gbps for downloads and 400 Mbps for uploads, linking Vodafone’s network directly to base stations in underserved regions. The solution is expected to reduce deployment costs while expanding the reach of mobile services in areas where building fibre networks is challenging or economically unviable.

Vodafone plans to begin implementing Amazon Leo connectivity for mobile base stations in Germany and other European countries within this year. Following this initial rollout, the company intends to gradually extend the service across Africa through its subsidiary, Vodacom. This phased deployment reflects Vodafone’s strategy to enhance mobile access in both densely populated and remote locations, leveraging satellite technology to overcome geographical constraints. Amazon Leo operates a constellation of over 200 satellites in orbit, with hundreds more constructed and awaiting launch. This growing network provides the capacity needed to support high-speed connections for mobile operators like Vodafone.

Vodafone also intends to offer satellite-based mobile connectivity directly to consumers using standard smartphones, in partnership with AST SpaceMobile. While the company has confirmed the collaboration, it has not yet announced a launch date for this service. This approach could allow individual users to access mobile networks via satellite, further expanding connectivity options in remote or rural areas. Through these initiatives, Vodafone is demonstrating a commitment to bridging connectivity gaps by combining terrestrial and satellite networks to reach underserved regions efficiently and cost-effectively.