Axian Telecom, the parent company of pan-African telecom group Yas, has announced a strategic partnership with AST SpaceMobile to deploy direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity across its markets in sub-Saharan Africa.
Under the agreement, AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network will integrate with Yas’ core telecom infrastructure, enabling users to access voice, video, data, and internet services directly from their mobile devices without requiring specialised equipment.
The partnership will also focus on developing commercial services for multiple sectors including consumer connectivity, enterprise communications, IoT applications, maritime and aviation connectivity, as well as emergency response services. Yas will manage local distribution, regulatory coordination, and customer activation through a simplified one-click SpaceMobile service.
Yas currently operates across Tanzania, Madagascar, Togo, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, Malawi, Réunion, and Mayotte, providing a broad footprint for the deployment of satellite-enabled mobile services.
Axian Telecom CEO Hassan Jaber said the collaboration will help extend connectivity beyond urban areas where traditional mobile coverage is often limited.
He noted that the technology enables connectivity using existing smartphones, allowing the operator to reach underserved communities without requiring users to purchase new devices.
The launch timeline for commercial services will depend on regulatory approvals across the different markets as well as AST SpaceMobile’s satellite deployment schedule. The company currently has five BlueBird LEO satellites in orbit and plans to launch between 45 and 60 additional satellites during the year to expand its global coverage.
The partnership represents AST SpaceMobile’s second major pan-African agreement. In December 2024, the company signed a ten-year commercial partnership with Vodafone Group to roll out direct-to-device satellite services across Vodafone’s global footprint, including markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and South Africa.
AST SpaceMobile has also established additional partnerships with Safaricom in Kenya and Uganda Telecom, further strengthening its presence in Africa’s emerging satellite-to-mobile connectivity ecosystem.
