• Vodacom partners with Starlink to expand broadband access across Africa
• Deal enables satellite-based services for remote areas and African businesses
• Move supports Vodacom’s Vision 2030 to grow users and digital services
  

South Africa-based telecommunications company Vodacom announced an agreement on Wednesday, November 12, with U.S. satellite internet provider Starlink. The partnership will enable Vodacom to deliver low-latency, high-speed broadband to millions of African businesses and extend network coverage in remote areas.

Bridging the Digital Divide

“We are delighted to collaborate with Starlink, a move that accelerates our mission to connect every African to the internet,” said Vodacom Group Chief Executive Officer Shameel Joosub. “Low-Earth-orbit satellite technology will help bridge the digital divide where traditional infrastructure is not feasible, and this partnership will unlock new possibilities for the unconnected.”

Vodacom expects that integrating Starlink’s satellite connectivity into its mobile network will accelerate coverage expansion and improve network performance in underserved areas. The operator will be allowed to resell Starlink’s equipment and services to African companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the freedom to adapt its offers to local market conditions and affordability. Vodacom also plans to offer customized services to support digital transformation across industries such as mining, oil and gas, agriculture and tourism.

Growing Demand for Satellite Solutions

The partnership comes as more African operators turn to satellite technology to address persistent coverage gaps in markets where only 28 percent of the population had access to mobile internet in 2024. In September 2023, Vodafone, Vodacom’s parent company, signed a deal with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite initiative, to expand 4G and 5G coverage for customers in Europe and Africa.

The Starlink partnership also supports Vodacom’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to reach 260 million customers and 120 million financial services users within five years. As of the end of September 2025, Vodacom reported 223 million subscribers. While it did not specify the number of internet users, the company said its prepaid internet service accounted for 31 percent of the 65.8 billion rand (3.83 billion dollars) generated by service revenue in the first half of fiscal year 2026, which ended on September 30, 2025. This was the largest contribution of any segment.

Isaac K. Kassouwi