Airtel Africa has signed an agreement with SpaceX to deploy Starlink’s satellite direct-to-cell mobile service across its entire footprint of 14 African markets from 2026.
- •The London-listed telecoms group said the partnership will allow Airtel subscribers with compatible smartphones to connect directly to Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellites when they move outside normal mobile coverage.
- •The initial rollout will support text messaging and limited data services for select applications, with broader data capabilities planned as newer satellites are introduced.
- •The deal covers all markets where Airtel Africa operates, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Niger, Chad, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Seychelles.
Airtel Africa serves more than 170 million customers across sub-Saharan Africa. The company said the satellite-to-cell service will complement, rather than replace, existing mobile infrastructure by filling coverage gaps in rural, remote, and hard-to-reach areas where building and maintaining towers remains uneconomic.
Under the agreement, Airtel will integrate Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability into its mobile network, allowing standard smartphones to roam onto satellite coverage without the need for dedicated satellite hardware. SpaceX has positioned the technology as a way to provide basic connectivity during outages or in areas with limited terrestrial infrastructure.
