Ghana is exploring a potential partnership with Amazon to expand broadband connectivity, with early discussions focusing on Amazon Leo, the company’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet network. The talks could open a new route for Ghana to reach communities that remain underserved by traditional fibre and mobile networks.
The discussions took place between Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Amazon Senior Vice President and Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer David Zapolsky in New York on September 25, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Reports say broadband expansion and digital infrastructure were among the issues discussed, with Amazon Leo emerging as a potential option for extending connectivity into rural communities.
Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s satellite broadband initiative. The company is deploying thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed, low-latency internet to locations where traditional connectivity infrastructure is difficult or expensive to build. Amazon says the network is designed to serve households, businesses, governments and communities beyond the reach of existing networks.
For Ghana, the potential opportunity is significant. More than a quarter of the country’s population was reportedly offline at the end of 2025, despite substantial mobile internet coverage. The challenge is particularly visible in rural and hard-to-reach areas, where laying fibre or building conventional telecommunications infrastructure can be commercially difficult.
Satellite broadband could provide an alternative by reducing the dependence on physical terrestrial infrastructure. Instead of waiting for fibre networks or additional mobile towers to reach remote communities, users could potentially connect through satellite terminals.
The implications could extend beyond consumer internet access. Better connectivity could support digital education, telemedicine, financial services, e-commerce and remote work. For businesses, more reliable broadband could also make it easier to operate cloud-based services and participate in digital markets.
Amazon is already pursuing partnerships elsewhere in Africa. In February, the company announced a collaboration with Vanu to use Amazon Leo to connect rural communities in Southern Africa. Amazon has also partnered with South Africa’s Herotel to provide satellite broadband to households and small businesses outside the reach of fibre and fixed wireless networks.
However, Ghana’s discussions with Amazon remain at an early stage. There is not yet a confirmed commercial launch, pricing structure or deployment timetable for Amazon Leo in Ghana. The potential arrangement would also have to fit Ghana’s telecommunications and satellite regulatory framework.
Competition is another factor. Ghana already has experience with satellite broadband through Starlink, which was authorised to operate in the country and had 16,435 subscriptions by September 2025, according to the country’s telecom regulator.
For Amazon, Ghana could provide another entry point into Africa’s growing connectivity market. For Ghana, the talks reflect a broader strategy of using technology partnerships to close digital infrastructure gaps.
If the discussions progress, Amazon Leo could become another component of Ghana’s connectivity ecosystem, particularly in areas where conventional networks struggle to reach. For now, however, the opportunity remains a proposal under discussion rather than a confirmed deployment.
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