Airtel Africa Partners with SpaceX’s Starlink to Roll Out Satellite Mobile Service Across 14 Markets

Airtel Africa said on Tuesday it has entered into a partnership with SpaceX to deploy Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology across its 14 African markets, aiming to expand network reach into areas where terrestrial coverage remains limited. The collaboration marks one of the continent’s most extensive planned satellite-to-mobile deployments by a major carrier.

The company said the service will begin operations in 2026, providing Airtel customers with compatible smartphones the ability to send text messages and access data for specific mobile applications through Starlink’s satellite network when outside existing cellular range. Airtel Africa added that the arrangement includes support for Starlink’s next-generation broadband Direct to Cell system, which will deliver connectivity speeds up to 20 times faster than earlier versions.

The move builds on SpaceX’s wider international rollout of its direct-to-cell technology, which began commercial service in Ukraine last month through Kyivstar, the country’s largest mobile operator, to maintain communications amid wartime infrastructure disruptions. Airtel Africa’s adoption signals growing interest among mobile operators in integrating satellite solutions to bolster coverage and service continuity.

Airtel Africa said the initiative will help bridge persistent connectivity gaps across rural and areas where terrestrial access remains constrained by geography and infrastructure. The integration of satellite and mobile technologies is expected to strengthen the company’s competitive position as data usage accelerates across African economies.

The partnership allows Airtel Africa to extend coverage and improve service reliability without the capital intensity of building physical base stations in remote regions, supporting longer-term growth in data services across its markets.

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