KEY POINTS

• Starlink Direct-to-Cell in Africa is set to launch commercially in 2026.
• Airtel Africa will deploy satellite connectivity across all 14 markets.
• Starlink Direct-to-Cell in Africa targets rural and underserved regions.

Airtel Africa Plc said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite service across all 14 of its African markets, a move that could reshape how mobile connectivity reaches the continent’s hardest-to-serve regions.

The service, expected to launch commercially in 2026, will allow standard smartphones to connect directly to low-Earth-orbit satellites, eliminating the need for ground-based towers. Airtel claimed that the first phase will only offer text messaging and restricted data services for certain apps. More features will be introduced over time, but only after getting permission from the government in each country.

Plan for Starlink Direct-to-Cell in Africa

The goal of Direct-to-Cell technology is to improve existing terrestrial networks by filling in coverage gaps in rural and distant places where erecting towers is too expensive or hard to do. Airtel Africa serves about 174 million customers across its footprint, making it the first mobile network operator on the continent to commit to Starlink Direct-to-Cell at scale.

Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said the partnership aligns with Airtel’s strategy to deliver “reliable and contiguous” connectivity across diverse geographies. He described satellite-based coverage as a practical solution for areas where traditional infrastructure struggles to reach, particularly across sparsely populated regions.

Starlink’s system relies on more than 650 satellites already in low-Earth orbit, capable of delivering messaging, data and eventually voice and video services to mobile devices in coverage dead zones.

What Starlink Direct-to-Cell in Africa means

Beyond basic messaging, the agreement includes a later-stage rollout of high-speed broadband delivered via next-generation satellites. Airtel said these satellites could offer data speeds up to 20 times faster than current capabilities, expanding access to digital services such as education, healthcare and mobile finance.

Stephanie Bednarek, Starlink’s vice president of sales, said the collaboration would allow people in remote parts of Africa to stay connected for the first time, while also introducing next-generation broadband technology to the continent.

Starlink Direct-to-Cell is already live in parts of the US through a partnership with T-Mobile, enabling texting and emergency alerts outside terrestrial coverage. In Europe, Ukraine became the first country to deploy the service commercially through Kyivstar, initially offering SMS with plans to expand to voice and data.

For Airtel, the deal underscores growing interest among African telecom operators in satellite solutions as a way to bridge long-standing connectivity gaps.