Airtel Africa announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity across all 14 of its African markets, including Nigeria. The move is aimed at expanding mobile coverage to areas without traditional network infrastructure.
Direct-to-Cell enables smartphones to connect directly to satellites, bypassing the need for mobile towers. According to the telecom operator, the service is expected to launch in 2026, initially supporting text messaging and limited data for select applications.
The agreement also covers the later rollout of high-speed broadband through next-generation satellites, capable of delivering data speeds up to 20 times faster. Deployment will depend on regulatory approvals in each country.
Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, said: “Airtel Africa remains committed to delivering a great experience to our customers by improving access to reliable and contiguous mobile connectivity solutions.”
He added that Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology complements terrestrial infrastructure and can reach areas where building terrestrial networks is difficult.
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“We are very excited about the collaboration with Starlink, which will establish a new standard for service availability across all our 14 markets,” Taldar said.
Serving roughly 174 million customers across its markets, Airtel Africa is the first mobile operator in Africa to offer Starlink Direct-to-Cell. The company said the partnership will help bridge the digital divide, ensuring connectivity in rural and underserved regions.
Starlink Direct-to-Cell is the world’s largest satellite constellation, with over 650 satellites in low-Earth orbit delivering data, voice, video, and messaging to devices in mobile dead zones.
Starlink Vice President of Sales, Stephanie Bednarek, said: “For the first time, people across Africa will stay connected in remote areas where terrestrial coverage cannot reach, and we’re so thrilled that Starlink Direct-to-Cell can power this life-changing service. Through this agreement with Airtel Africa, we’ll also deliver our next-generation technology to offer high-speed broadband connectivity, which will provide faster access to many essential services.”
The service is already operating in parts of the world, with more locations planning to launch as partnerships expand. In the USA, it works with T‑Mobile, allowing compatible phones to send text messages and receive emergency alerts directly via Starlink satellites.
Kyivstar has rolled out Starlink Direct-to-Cell across parts of Ukraine, initially supporting SMS and later expanding to voice and data. Ukraine became the first European country to offer this satellite service to regular 4G users.