• Airtel Africa signed a partnership with SpaceX to launch Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity starting in 2026.
• The agreement aims to extend mobile coverage, improve resilience and reach hard-to-access areas across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets.
• Data services now lead Airtel Africa’s revenue, generating $1.16 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2026.

African telecom operators increasingly turn to satellite solutions. Groups such as Orange, Safaricom, MTN, Vodacom, Telecel and Maroc Telecom (Moov Africa) already explore or integrate these technologies.

Within this broader shift, telecommunications company Airtel Africa is strengthening its satellite capabilities to support network expansion across the continent. The African subsidiary of India’s Bharti Airtel announced on Tuesday, December 16, a partnership with U.S. company SpaceX, which operates the Starlink satellite Internet service. The agreement targets the launch, from 2026, of the satellite connectivity solution “Starlink Direct-to-Cell.”

“Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology complements terrestrial infrastructure and allows us to reach areas where deploying ground networks is challenging. We are very excited about this collaboration with Starlink, which will set a new standard for service availability across all our 14 markets,” said Sunil Taldar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, in a statement.

The “Starlink Direct-to-Cell” solution relies on the Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite service delivery model. This technology enables direct connectivity between satellites and mobile devices, including smartphones. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), this additional coverage layer helps mobile networks reach sparsely populated or hard-to-access areas.

“The D2D infrastructure also provides an additional layer of network resilience: satellite signals can still be received in the event of terrestrial network failures, particularly to maintain emergency services when ground networks fail. D2D can therefore ensure connectivity after natural disasters and contribute to the digital empowerment of communities affected by crises during humanitarian interventions,” the organization said.

This new agreement follows an earlier announcement made in May, when Airtel Africa and SpaceX unveiled a first partnership covering the integration of Starlink satellite Internet services into the group’s data offerings. That cooperation, based on the use of SpaceX’s full satellite constellation, allows the operator to use cellular backhauling, which connects remote base stations to the core network via satellite.

Airtel Africa has already pursued similar initiatives in the past. In November 2022, the group signed a comparable agreement with OneWeb, now Eutelsat OneWeb. Under that framework, Airtel launched a satellite connectivity solution branded “Airtel Satellite” in Madagascar in March 2024, with plans to extend the service to other African markets. In October 2025, the company also announced the deployment of an Internet connectivity solution for trains in motion. Airtel Africa is also working with the Gabonese government on a project to provide Wi-Fi on passenger trains, with service expected to start by the end of December 2025.

This growing reliance on satellite connectivity comes as around 9% of Africa’s population remains uncovered by mobile Internet. Coverage of these underserved areas offers operators opportunities to attract new subscribers, increase usage and boost revenues.

As of the end of September 2025, Airtel Africa reported 173.8 million subscribers, including 78.1 million Internet customers. Data services generated $1.16 billion in revenue during the first half of fiscal year 2026, covering April to September 2025. Data revenues overtook voice services to become the group’s largest revenue contributor, as total revenue reached about $3 billion over the period.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum