Airtel Africa Partners with Elon Musk's Starlink to Launch Direct Satellite Service to Mobile Phones in 14 African Countries

Airtel Africa announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with SpaceX to deploy Starlink's direct-to-cell satellite technology across its fourteen African markets. This was reported by Business Insider Africa on its website on December 17.

According to a company statement, the mobile satellite service is expected to launch in 2026. Initially, it will provide access to data for certain applications as well as text messaging.

As part of this agreement, Airtel Africa customers with compatible smartphones will benefit from mobile connectivity via Starlink in areas not served by terrestrial networks.

The partnership also supports the first direct-to-cell high-speed system from Starlink. This will rely on next-generation satellites capable of offering high-speed connections directly to smartphones, with data speeds potentially up to twenty times higher, according to Airtel Africa.

Starlink is strengthening its presence in Africa.

This collaboration marks a new step in Starlink's expansion on the African continent. Elon Musk's satellite internet service, which is pursuing a rapid market penetration strategy in Africa, recently launched operations in São Tomé and Príncipe. The archipelago becomes the twenty-sixth African country to benefit from Starlink.

Despite this sustained growth, Starlink faces regulatory hurdles in certain countries. In South Africa, the continent's largest economy, the service is still not fully operational due to regulatory constraints, particularly the requirements related to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), which mandate thirty percent local ownership—a condition incompatible with SpaceX's structure.

In response to this situation, South African authorities issued a directive aimed at enabling Starlink and other satellite internet providers to operate without relinquishing ownership shares. However, a parliamentary committee overseeing the telecommunications sector recently recommended the withdrawal of this directive.