# Amazon Beats Elon Musk to South Africa Amazon launches internet service in South Africa, outpacing Starlink. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-07-16 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2fc72b03-853b-4d9b-bc90-8c69833ec6ee ## Amazon's South Africa Plan Amazon announced it will launch its Leo satellite internet service in South Africa in 2027. This move reflects its strategy to outpace Elon Musk's Starlink in Africa's most advanced economy. ## Local Partnership Amazon plans to partner with South African internet provider Herotel to offer services in the country of 62 million people. This marks Amazon's first satellite internet agreement on the African continent. ## Musk's Criticism Elon Musk accused the South African government of racism, claiming it blocked Starlink's operations. Musk criticized the requirement for foreign companies to establish local partnerships in the communications sector. ## Government Support The South African government backed Amazon's deal. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi joined Amazon and Herotel representatives to announce the agreement, highlighting the country's focus on tech investments. ## Africa's Potential Africa, with a population of over 1.5 billion, offers a vast market for satellite internet. Services like these could be a game-changer for rural areas lacking fixed internet access. ## The Future of Competition Amazon Leo plans to expand beyond Africa to Asia and South America. Meanwhile, Starlink operates in over 160 countries. The rivalry between these giants will shape global internet access. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/07/16/musk-white-south-africa-amazon-starlink/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._