Airtel Africa has said it has partnered with US space company SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology across all 14 of its African markets, in a move aimed at expanding mobile connectivity in remote and underserved areas.
The service, which will allow smartphones to connect directly to satellites without relying on terrestrial mobile towers, is expected to begin operations across Africa in 2026, the company said in a statement.
Under the initial phase, Airtel Africa users with compatible smartphones will be able to access data services for selected applications as well as text messaging in areas without conventional network coverage.
The partnership also covers support for Starlink’s first broadband direct-to-cell system, which will use next-generation satellites designed to deliver significantly faster speeds.
“These satellites will be capable of providing high-speed connectivity to smartphones with up to 20 times improved data speed,” Airtel Africa said.
The deal marks one of the most ambitious attempts yet to integrate satellite-based mobile services into Africa’s telecoms landscape, where vast rural areas still lack reliable mobile coverage despite rapid growth in smartphone adoption.
Satellite-to-cell technology is seen as a potential solution to persistent connectivity gaps, particularly in sparsely populated regions where the cost of building and maintaining terrestrial infrastructure remains prohibitive.
Starlink, the satellite internet unit of SpaceX, has been expanding aggressively into mobile connectivity, positioning its low-Earth orbit satellite constellation as a complement to existing mobile networks rather than a replacement.
Last month, Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, became the first in Europe to launch Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology, seeking to keep millions connected during wartime blackouts and damage to telecoms infrastructure.
Airtel Africa operates in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, providing mobile voice, data and mobile money services to tens of millions of customers. The company said the satellite partnership would help improve coverage resilience and extend basic connectivity to hard-to-reach communities.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
