Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) has signed a deal with Amazon.com’s (AMZN) subsidiary, Amazon Leo, to connect 4G and 5G mobile masts in remote areas across Europe and Africa. The partnership will utilize Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network to enhance network coverage and reduce infrastructure costs.
The arrangement includes satellite backhaul connectivity offering download speeds up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 400 Mbps. The rollout is set to commence this year in Germany and will expand into African markets through Vodacom, Vodafone’s subsidiary. Currently, Amazon Leo operates more than 200 satellites in orbit, with plans for further launches to increase capacity.
Amid rising data traffic, Vodafone is also collaborating with Meta Platforms Inc. (META) to optimize short-form video delivery, and has partnered with Nokia Corporation (NOK) to conduct a commercial 5G Open RAN pilot study in Italy. These initiatives are aimed at improving network efficiency and bridging connectivity gaps, especially in regions with limited access.
