Vodafone to use Amazon sats for cell backhaul in remote parts of Europe, Africa
The Register
March 3, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Vodafone has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Amazon's satellite network, Project Kuiper (now known as Amazon Leo), to provide backhaul connectivity for cellular base stations in remote European and African regions. This innovative solution will allow Vodafone to bypass the costly and time-consuming process of laying cables to connect these geographically dispersed sites to its core network. The agreement initially targets Germany and other European countries, with plans to expand across Africa through Vodacom, a majority-owned subsidiary of Vodafone. The first connections are expected by 2026, as Amazon continues deploying its satellite constellation.
Amazon Leo's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are designed to deliver high-speed connectivity, offering up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds. With more than 200 satellites already in orbit and plans for a total of 3,000 by the end of the decade, Amazon aims to compete with rival Starlink, which currently dominates the satellite broadband market. Vodafone's adoption of this technology underscores its commitment to expanding reliable connectivity in underserved rural areas, where traditional infrastructure is difficult or expensive to deploy.
This partnership also enhances network resilience for emergency services, ensuring connectivity during natural disasters or fiber outages. Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle emphasized the importance of this agreement in achieving the company's goal of delivering high-speed, reliable connectivity across its vast service regions. Additionally, Vodafone is advancing its own direct-to-device satellite services through a separate agreement with AST SpaceMobile, leveraging Amazon Leo and Satellite Connect Europe to offer seamless integration with existing mobile networks.
While Vodafone's efforts mark a significant step forward in expanding global connectivity,
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Originally published on The Register on 3/3/2026