Amazon said Wednesday it will start its satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, in South Africa in 2027.

The company will work with South African internet provider Herotel.

This is Amazon's first satellite internet deal in Africa.

The companies did not share any financial details.

This move comes after Elon Musk criticized South Africa's government.

Musk was born in South Africa.

He said rules stop him from launching Starlink there because he is white.

The rules require foreign communication companies to give a minority share to Black or non-white owners.

The government says these policies deal with past discrimination from the apartheid era.

South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi joined Amazon and Herotel to announce the deal.

Amazon launched its first low-orbit internet satellites last year.

It now has over 390 working satellites.

Starlink has more than 10,000 satellites in orbit.

It operates in over 160 countries.

Starlink is available in about two dozen other African nations.

But Musk has refused to follow South Africa's affirmative action rules.

Amazon said the South Africa deal is the start of its Africa expansion.

It will also work with Vanu Inc., a company that focuses on mobile internet in developing countries.

There is a large possible market for satellite internet in Africa.

Many people there do not have fixed connections.

Amazon Leo has already signed deals in several other countries.

These include Thailand, Australia, and Brazil.