Airtel Africa has signed an agreement with SpaceX to launch Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) low-Earth orbit satellite service across all 14 of its African markets next year, subject to regulatory approvals. The service will initially support SMS and selected text-based messaging applications, extending basic connectivity to areas beyond the reach of terrestrial mobile networks.
The agreement builds on Airtel Africa’s existing partnership with SpaceX, under which Starlink internet services are already available in nine markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The arrangement also covers Airtel’s remaining markets—Tanzania, Uganda, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Seychelles—where Starlink licences are still under review.
Airtel Africa said the D2C service will complement its existing mobile infrastructure by providing coverage in remote and hard-to-serve locations. Managing Director and CEO Sunil Taldar said the technology would establish a new benchmark for service availability by extending basic mobile connectivity where traditional network deployment is difficult or uneconomical.
The deal further strengthens Starlink’s momentum in the direct-to-cell segment, following recent launches in the United States, New Zealand, Ukraine, and successful field testing in Kazakhstan.
