Airtel has launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through a partnership with Starlink, the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet company, which currently has 650 launched satellites.
According to Airtel DRC Managing Director Thierry Diasnova, the launch follows groundwork preparations and a pilot of Starlink’s mobile data and messaging services in Kenya in March. The development also follows the strategic partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink announced in December 2025.
The launch marks a historic moment for Airtel Africa and the continent towards the push to bridge the digital divide and connect underserved and rural communities in Africa. This is essential in a period when operators struggle to deploy infrastructure to rural communities.
With the launch, compatible smartphones will be able to connect directly to Starlink’s satellite network in areas without terrestrial mobile infrastructure. In addition, the phones can connect with the satellites for SMS and light-data applications like WhatsApp without needing tower dependence or extra dishes.
Diasnova explained that the country’s size and geography make it difficult for operators to economically deploy terrestrial infrastructure in remote areas.
“This service provides an additional layer of connectivity, helping customers remain reachable, informed and connected even in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable,” he said.
DRC faces a major internet and mobile coverage gap, with nationwide coverage at 77% for 2G, 68% for 3G, and 57% for 4G. About 4.3 million people across nearly 3,000 remote and rural communities lack basic mobile reach, and rural provinces like Tshuapa have coverage as low as 14%.
Airtel-Starlink: A win that opens the door to more markets
The latest development alleviates the hurdle of scepticism for Airtel in its ambition to leverage Starlink’s high-speed internet and quality infrastructure to capture subscribers in rural areas.
Recall that Starlink is currently present in 29 African countries following the most recent launch in Côte d’Ivoire.
Airtel Kenya is awaiting clearance from the Communications Authority of Kenya to launch a direct-to-cell satellite service, making it the first mobile operator in the country to pursue direct satellite-to-phone connectivity for standard 4G and 5G smartphones.
Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar described the DRC launch as a significant milestone in extending connectivity beyond terrestrial networks. He added that the DRC deployment would provide a blueprint for the gradual expansion of the service across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets in sub-Saharan Africa.
Airtel is not the only operator in Africa in line for satellite-to-mobile services.
This development comes amid an initial successful Direct-to-Cell (D2C) testing by MTN Zambia. In March, the telecom operator became the first African operator to complete field testing of Starlink’s D2C services.
Also in March, AXIAN Telecom partnered with AST SpaceMobile to launch direct-to-device space-based broadband, enabling 4G/5G voice and data directly to standard mobile phones.
These moves signify a new era in Africa where telecom operators, through Direct to Cell, aim to close the connectivity gap by allowing devices to connect to satellite networks where traditional towers can’t reach.
Besides, Amazon’s entry into Africa provides an alternative partnership for telecom operators to explore.
Also Read: Airtel to expand coverage in Nigeria with Starlink Direct-to-Cell deal.
