Vox has partnered with Q-Kon to launch Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services, providing rapid, reliable and affordable high-speed connectivity for South African enterprises operating in remote or infrastructure-challenged regions.

LEO satellites orbit approximately 1,000km from Earth, enabling latency under 100 milliseconds with committed speeds of 100Mbps downloads and 20Mbps uploads. The technology requires minimal infrastructure investment while delivering immediate connectivity regardless of geographic barriers — making it ideal for sectors affected by floods, inaccessible terrain or unstable infrastructure.

Although costlier than fibre, Microwave or 5G, LEO packages can be customised for high uptime, redundancy, and mission-critical business applications. The service unlocks advanced operational capabilities such as automation, AI, predictive analytics and IoT, transforming commercial, agricultural, renewable power, hospitality, mining and manufacturing environments.

High-Speed LEO Satellite Connectivity Now Available to South African Enterprises

Vox, a market-leading end-to-end Internet service provider in South Africa, has partnered with Q-Kon to introduce LEO satellite connectivity to South African businesses. The network delivers rapid and reliable access to affordable, high-speed satellite communications capable of supporting:

  • Real-time data transfer

  • Enterprise communication platforms

  • Cloud-friendly applications

  • Video conferencing

  • Full MPLS and SD-WAN integration

  • IoT, automation and remote monitoring

For commercial, agricultural, renewable energy, hospitality, mining and manufacturing operations located in remote areas or regions affected by floods, weather conditions or unreliable infrastructure, LEO provides an immediate and robust solution to long-standing connectivity challenges.

Why LEO Satellite Internet Is a Breakthrough for SA Businesses

“Companies that operate in hard-to-reach areas of the country need a solution that reduces downtime, enhances their data capabilities, has low latency, and doesn’t limit their ability to explore the potential of emerging technologies,” says Kathleen Morris, Satellite Product Manager at Vox.

“In sectors like hospitality, high-end estates require always-on guest Wi-Fi; in mining, real-time data and seamless communication are essential. All of this is delivered by LEO.”

How LEO Satellite Technology Works

LEO satellites — arranged in a constellated network — orbit roughly 1,000km above Earth, offering:

  • Sub-100ms latency

  • 100Mbps committed downloads

  • 20Mbps committed uploads

With more than 648 OneWeb satellites currently in orbit, LEO provides near-global coverage regardless of terrain or location. Its proximity to Earth significantly reduces latency while enabling reliable high-speed performance.

The infrastructure requirements are minimal, allowing rapid deployment and immediate activation, even in areas with no terrestrial connectivity options.

Cost vs Value: Why LEO Is Worth It for Critical Operations

While LEO satellite services are more expensive than fibre, Microwave or 5G, the costs have lowered enough to make adoption viable for most organisations requiring:

  • Guaranteed uptime

  • Built-in redundancy

  • High availability for mission-critical applications

  • Reliable communication in remote or high-risk areas

LEO satellite constellations are designed to ensure continuity, offering a safeguard that keeps organisations connected even during infrastructure failures.

“LEO is changing the nature of communications in South Africa,” says Morris. “Automation, AI, and worker-safety technologies depend on reliable connectivity. IoT is transforming predictive maintenance and reducing downtime — saving companies millions. All of this is enabled by high-performance, low-latency connectivity, and LEO is now perfectly positioned to deliver it.”

LEO Connectivity: Built for South Africa’s Real-World Challenges

In a country where a single rainfall can remove a road and where terrestrial infrastructure continues to lag, LEO satellite services from Vox offer consistency and reliability when businesses need it most.

From complex ecosystems to harsh operating environments, LEO provides the capacity, speed, low latency and stability required to support enterprise-grade operations — no matter where in South Africa they are located.