South Africa has introduced two new satellite internet services in July, providing alternatives to SpaceX’s Starlink, which remains unavailable in the country. Deputy President Paul Mashatile launched BrainSAT, a state-backed provider, while Herotel began selling Amazon’s Leo network under the brand “evry,” according to Thecommonsense.
BrainSAT and the Space42 Partnership
BrainSAT is a state-backed satellite internet and communication provider built in partnership with Space42, an aerospace technology company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Space42 was formed in 2024 through a merger between Al Yah Satellite Communications (Yahsat) and geospatial solutions provider Bayanat. The partnership follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed during a state visit to Dubai in April 2024, as reported by Polity.org.za.
BrainSAT utilizes geostationary orbit technology, relying on a single satellite positioned 35,786 kilometers above Earth. In addition to internet services, BrainSAT sells Thuraya satellite phones for commercial and remote users. According to MyBroadband, Space42 has 11 satellites in orbit, but four have reached their end-of-life stage. The oldest, Thuraya-2, was launched in 2003 and is more than 10 years past its decommissioning schedule.
Amazon LEO and Local Distribution
The second new option is Amazon’s Leo network (formerly Project Kuiper), which is being marketed by Herotel under the brand “evry.” Unlike BrainSAT, Amazon Leo utilizes low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which sit between 590 and 630 kilometers up. As of July 2026, the constellation included 396 satellites. Commercial service for these offerings is not expected in South Africa before 2027, according to Thecommonsense.
Amazon’s strategy involves powering local internet providers rather than selling directly to consumers. This approach allows partners like Herotel to handle regulatory compliance and customer management. Herotel’s planned offerings include a “Nanotier with speeds up to 100Mbps and a
Pro” tier reaching 300Mbps. Herotel’s ability to deploy this service is supported by existing ICASA licenses; the company is controlled by Vumatel, which was approved by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in May 2026.
Performance Comparisons and Controversy
The new services have drawn criticism from the civil rights organization AfriForum, which has requested transparency from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies via the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s Head of Public Relations, highlighted a significant performance gap between the state-backed service and Starlink. Van Zyl stated that while Starlink provides speeds between 40 and 250 Mbps, Space42’s Thuraya-4 service delivers a maximum of 1 Mbps.
Technical differences in orbit height also impact latency. BrainSAT’s geostationary signal travels 35,000km, resulting in latency of roughly 700 milliseconds. This is more than 15 times slower than the 20–50 millisecond latency typical of South Africa’s current fixed and mobile broadband, according to Thecommonsense.
AfriForum alleges that the government is opting for the more expensive and slower Space42 service because the company is willing to comply with race-based demands,
whereas Starlink remains blocked due to ownership rules and racial grounds.
Satellite Technology Overview
| Provider | Orbit Type | Altitude | Reported Speed/Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrainSAT (Space42) | Geostationary | 35,786 km | Max 1 Mbps (Thuraya-4) |
| Amazon Leo (evry) | Low-Earth Orbit | 590–630 km | 100Mbps (Nano) / 300Mbps (Pro) |
| Starlink (SpaceX) | Low-Earth Orbit | 340–570 km | 40 to 250 Mbps |
Related reading
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.