Vodafone and Amazon’s Project Kuiper expand 4G/5G reach in Europe and Africa

Discover how Vodafone and Amazonโ€™s Project Kuiper are partnering to extend 5G and satellite connectivity to underserved communities in Africa and Europe to make high-speed internet more accessible.
Vodafone and Amazon's Project Kuiper expand 4G/5G reach in Europe and Africa
Image Credit: Vodafone and Amazon

Vodafone and Project Kuiper Join Forces

Vodafone has teamed up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications initiative, to transform and extend the reach of their 4G and 5G networks. This strategic collaboration aims to serve a larger customer base in both Europe and Africa, two regions often affected by connectivity gaps.

Extending 4G/5G Capabilities with High-Bandwidth Satellite Networks


Traditional means of expanding network servicesโ€”like fiber optics and microwave solutionsโ€”can be both time-consuming and expensive. In contrast, Vodafone and its affiliate Vodacom plan to utilize Project Kuiper’s high-bandwidth, low-latency satellite network. This approach will enable both companies to offer 4G/5G services to areas that would otherwise be difficult or prohibitively costly to serve. By using Project Kuiper’s satellites, Vodafone and Vodacom can connect their cellular antennas back to their core networks efficiently and cost-effectively.

A Global Mission to Serve Unserved and Underserved Communities

Amazon intends to partner with Vodafone to bring Project Kuiperโ€™s high-speed broadband services to communities that lack adequate internet access. These companies are also considering other enterprise-level offerings, such as backup services for unexpected events and extending connectivity to remote infrastructures.

Transformative Impact on Various Sectors

Margherita Della Valle, the Chief Executive of Vodafone Group, highlighted the far-reaching effects of this collaboration. According to her, the partnership aims to provide mobile connectivity to approximately 40% of the global population without internet access. It will support various sectors, including remote communities, education, emergency services, and even disaster relief efforts.

Dave Limp, Amazonโ€™s Senior VP for Devices and Services, also emphasized that their flexible satellite network will connect places that have traditionally been hard to reach. The partnership aims to enhance connectivity in several domains like residential broadband, agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, and financial services.

Vodacomโ€™s Commitment to a Connected Future

Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group, affirmed Vodacom’s role in this initiative by stating that their purpose is to connect for a better future. Partnering with Project Kuiper, they aim to accelerate their efforts to bring more people online across the African continent.

The Roadmap: Satellite Deployment and Beta Testing

Amazon is in the process of testing prototype satellites and aims to begin deploying its production satellites by 2024. Simultaneously, beta testing of Project Kuiper services with select customers is expected by the end of 2024. Vodafone and Vodacom have committed to participating in these trials, setting the stage for an expansive rollout of 4G/5G services across Europe and Africa.

This strategic partnership between Vodafone, Vodacom, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper signals a pivotal moment in the expansion of 5G and satellite-based connectivity, promising to close the digital divide in underserved regions.


Recent Content

Web3 is redefining the telecom industry by introducing decentralized infrastructure, blockchain-based billing, smart contracts, NFTs, and digital identity. This article explores how telcos can evolve from connectivity providers to key players in Web3 ecosystemsโ€”offering programmable services, token economies, and secure, user-centric digital experiences.
As the telecom industry celebrates World Telecom Day 2025, the theme is clear: connectivity is not just infrastructureโ€”it is empowerment. It is what enables a student in a rural village to access world-class education, a farmer to monitor crops via smart sensors, or a doctor to conduct remote surgery with millisecond precision.
AT&T will acquire Lumenโ€™s consumer fiber business in a $5.75B deal to expand its broadband coverage to 60 million U.S. locations by 2030. The transaction gives AT&T access to 4M enabled locations, 1M subscribers, and new metro markets like Seattle and Phoenix. Meanwhile, Lumen refocuses on enterprise innovation and AI-first networking.
As 5G expands, reduced-capability (RedCap) and enhanced RedCap (eRedCap) IoT devices face pressure to transition from 4G. But adoption has lagged due to price and value challenges. This article explores why OEMs are holding back, the role of low-power DSP modem platforms like Cevaโ€™s, and how software-defined radio and flexibility are key to unlocking 5Gโ€™s potential in high-volume, low-bandwidth IoT applications.
Verizon joins the Buffalo Bills as a Founding Partner of Highmark Stadium, bringing 5G connectivity, sustainability-focused services, and smart venue technology to the teamโ€™s new home in Orchard Park. The partnership includes ownership of the DAS system, advanced operational tools, AR fan features, and exclusive Verizon customer activationsโ€”setting a new benchmark for connected sports venues by 2026.
Singtel launches 5G+, introducing nationwide network slicing for both consumers and enterprises, a global first. This upgrade brings faster speeds, lower latency, stronger indoor coverage, and real-time cyber protection to over 1.5 million users. Singtel 5G+ enhances mobile connectivity with the 700MHz spectrum, priority plans, and app-based slicing for business-critical apps, aligning with Singaporeโ€™s Smart Nation goals.
Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore the collaboration between Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, Ericsson, and Saab at the Aviation Innovation Hub. Discover how private 5G networks, real-time analytics, and sustainable innovations are shaping the "Airport of the Future" for a smarter, safer, and greener aviation industry....
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top