MTN Zambia has achieved a major milestone in Africa’s telecommunications sector after successfully testing satellite technology that allows smartphones to connect directly to satellites without relying on traditional ground infrastructure. The breakthrough was achieved using the Direct to Cell system developed by Starlink, the satellite internet network operated by SpaceX.
The tests were conducted in Lusaka and represent the first successful trial of this technology by a mobile network operator on the African continent. According to MTN Zambia, the test included both a mobile data session and a fintech transaction carried out through the satellite connection, demonstrating the technology’s ability to support real world digital services.
The company announced the milestone on March 6, 2026, noting that the successful trials could pave the way for a commercial launch of the service in the coming weeks. However, the rollout will depend on regulatory approval from the national telecommunications regulator, the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority.
Direct to Cell technology represents a major evolution in satellite communications. Traditionally, satellite internet requires specialized satellite dishes or ground terminals to connect users to orbiting satellites. Starlink’s Direct to Cell system removes that requirement by enabling ordinary LTE or 4G smartphones to connect directly to satellites in space.
In this system, Starlink satellites effectively act as cellular base stations orbiting the Earth. Equipped with advanced phased array antennas, the satellites can communicate directly with smartphones on the ground using mobile network spectrum licensed to telecom operators. Once the signal is received, the satellites relay the data across the Starlink constellation using laser links between satellites before sending it to internet gateways connected to the broader global network.
This architecture allows mobile operators to integrate satellite coverage into their networks in a manner similar to international roaming agreements. When a smartphone moves outside the reach of terrestrial towers, it can automatically connect to a satellite based cell site in orbit, maintaining access to essential services.
MTN Zambia said the technology will enable customers to access a wide range of digital services even in areas where traditional telecommunications infrastructure is unavailable. During the trial, users were able to access voice and video calls through WhatsApp, carry out mobile money transactions using the MTN MoMo platform and use the operator’s MyMTN application. Basic services such as web browsing, navigation tools and weather applications were also tested successfully.
The innovation is particularly significant for rural and remote regions of Zambia where installing mobile towers can be technically difficult and economically expensive. Vast rural areas, national parks, mountainous regions and communities located around large lakes or rivers often remain outside the coverage of conventional cellular networks.
Satellite based connectivity could help close these coverage gaps. By allowing standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites, operators can extend network access to locations that have historically been considered unreachable or too costly to serve.
Africa still faces a substantial digital divide, with millions of people living beyond the reach of reliable mobile broadband services. Telecommunications infrastructure across the continent is expanding rapidly, yet large rural populations remain disconnected due to geographic barriers and high infrastructure costs.
Technologies like Starlink Direct to Cell are increasingly viewed as a potential solution to this challenge. Instead of building thousands of additional towers across difficult terrain, telecom operators can integrate satellite connectivity into their networks, dramatically expanding coverage while reducing infrastructure investment.
MTN Zambia’s successful tests place the company at the forefront of satellite enabled mobile connectivity in Africa. The operator credited the support of the country’s Ministry of Technology and Science as well as regulatory guidance from the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority for helping facilitate the trial process.
The development also reflects a growing global race to connect smartphones directly to satellites. Several companies are currently pursuing similar technologies, including AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global. These companies aim to build satellite networks capable of delivering voice, messaging and data services directly to standard mobile devices without requiring specialized hardware.
For Africa’s telecommunications industry, such innovations could represent a transformative step toward universal connectivity. As satellite and mobile networks become increasingly integrated, the possibility of eliminating so called coverage gaps across rural regions becomes more realistic.
If regulatory approvals are granted, MTN Zambia’s planned commercial launch could mark the beginning of a new era in mobile connectivity on the continent. By combining satellite infrastructure with traditional telecom networks, operators may soon be able to deliver reliable digital services to communities that have remained offline for decades.
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