Vodafone has signed a deal with Amazon's Leo satellite network to connect 4G and 5G mobile masts in remote areas across Europe and Africa. The partnership will use Leo's low Earth orbit satellites to provide connections of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds, eliminating the need for expensive fiber installations in hard-to-reach locations.

Amazon Leo currently operates over 200 satellites in orbit with hundreds more ready for launch. Vodafone will begin deploying the satellite connectivity in Germany and other European countries this year before expanding the service across Africa through its Vodacom subsidiary. The technology aims to improve mobile coverage in areas where traditional infrastructure deployment is challenging or cost-prohibitive.

The partnership represents a significant shift in how mobile operators can extend their networks. While Vodafone separately plans to offer direct satellite connections to customers through partner AST SpaceMobile, those services have not yet launched. This deal focuses specifically on connecting Vodafone's own infrastructure rather than consumer-facing services.