Vanu, a provider of equipment, tools and services that allow mobile network operators to profitably serve rural communities, has announced a strategic agreement with Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, Project Kuiper, to bring low-cost, high-quality mobile connectivity to rural and underserved communities in Africa. The collaboration will initially focus on southern Africa.
Vanu says its mission is to help close the global digital and usage divide by connecting the unconnected, pointing out that its innovative coverage solutions already provide mobile connectivity to millions of people in remote regions across multiple continents. By integrating Amazon’s advanced satellite network into its product and services portfolio, Vanu says it will be able to significantly expand its reach while working alongside a globally trusted brand.
Project Kuiper already has more than 150 satellites in space and is quickly expanding its satellite constellation. Vanu will deploy its coverage as a service, leveraging Amazon low-latency connectivity to provide mobile broadband to rural communities starting in 2026.
Using backhaul connectivity to avoid the cost and complexity of expanding the reach of traditional telecom infrastructure, Vanu says it will drive digital inclusion for rural unconnected communities unlocking high-speed communications for education, healthcare, commerce, and emergency response.
Starting in southern Africa, Vanu and Amazon aim to demonstrate that a sustainable and scalable model for rural coverage is not only achievable, but repeatable and ready to expand.
However, Vanu and Amazon are not alone in targeting this region. As we reported yesterday, satcoms company Eutelsat and pan-African telecoms network services provider Paratus Group say they have signed a new multi-million, multi-year agreement to expand delivery of Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity services across southern Africa.
