Natalie Nyathi
Airtel Africa and SpaceX’s Starlink are teaming up to roll out direct-to-cell satellite technology across 14 African countries. This partnership aims to provide affordable and reliable internet in areas where connectivity has been limited or unreliable, especially in rural communities.
This collaboration is important because many people in Africa lack basic internet access, which impacts education, healthcare, and economic development. The initiative looks to connect those who are currently unconnected.
“In partnership with Airtel Africa, Starlink Direct to Cell will connect more than 170 million people in Africa across 14 countries, powering life-saving connectivity when it’s needed most,” Starlink stated.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell technology offers high-speed internet directly to standard mobile phones through satellites. This approach removes the need for extensive ground infrastructure, making it useful in remote areas where it’s hard or too costly to lay cables. “Direct to Cell works with every LTE phone wherever you can see the sky, enabling off-the-grid connectivity on land, lakes, or coastal waters. No changes to existing hardware, firmware, or special apps required,” Starlink added.
This technology can deliver universal mobile connectivity even in isolated locations. Each satellite has a modem that allows direct communication with phones.
The satellite service is expected to start in 2026, initially providing support for text messaging and some data applications. Airtel Africa customers with compatible smartphones will be able to access mobile services via Starlink in places where regular network coverage is lacking.
The agreement will also support Starlink’s first broadband direct-to-cell system, which will use new satellites to deliver high-speed internet to smartphones at speeds up to 20 times faster than current options.
Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, mentioned that “Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology complements the terrestrial infrastructure and even reaches areas where deploying terrestrial network solutions are challenging.”
This agreement will compete with AST SpaceMobile’s partnerships with Vodafone/Vodacom in other African markets. While Starlink is expanding in Africa, it has faced regulatory issues in some countries, including South Africa, due to local ownership requirements.
The partnership fits into Airtel Africa’s wider strategy to expand its digital services and close gaps in coverage in rural areas. Airtel currently offers Starlink services in nine of its 14 markets with regulatory approval. These include Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The agreement also includes Airtel’s other five markets: Tanzania, Uganda, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Seychelles, where Starlink has applied for licenses.
Airtel Africa has looked into similar partnerships before, like a deal with OneWeb (now Eutelsat OneWeb) in November 2022.
This partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink is a big step in improving internet access across the continent, which could change the lives of millions. By working to connect the unconnected, this initiative highlights the importance of digital inclusion for Africa’s growth. As the demand for connectivity rises, partnerships like this could unlock Africa’s full digital potential.