Under the deal, Project Kuiper will provide satellite backhaul links to connect Vodafone’s 4G and 5G mobile base stations in remote areas where traditional fibre installation is costly or impractical. The service is expected to deliver speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for downloads and 400 megabits per second (Mbps) for uploads, enabling high-capacity connections between Vodafone’s core network and rural mobile masts.
The agreement marks a significant step in Vodafone’s strategy to close connectivity gaps in underserved regions. By leveraging low Earth orbit satellites, which operate closer to the planet than traditional geostationary satellites, the company aims to improve latency and performance while avoiding the substantial expense and logistical challenges associated with laying fibre infrastructure across difficult terrain.
Vodafone said it plans to begin deploying the satellite links to connect base stations in Germany and other European markets later this year. A broader rollout across Africa will follow, primarily through its subsidiary Vodacom, extending enhanced network capacity to rural and remote communities.
Project Kuiper currently has more than 200 satellites in orbit, with hundreds more built and awaiting launch, according to Vodafone. The constellation is part of Amazon’s broader push into the satellite broadband market, competing with other LEO operators seeking to deliver global high-speed internet coverage.
Separately, Vodafone is also pursuing direct-to-device satellite connectivity. In partnership with AST SpaceMobile, the operator plans to offer satellite services accessible via standard smartphones. However, the company has not yet announced a launch date for those consumer-facing services.
The twin-track approach—using satellites both for network backhaul and eventually for direct mobile connectivity—signals Vodafone’s increasing reliance on space-based infrastructure to expand coverage and strengthen resilience across its international footprint.