By Peter.
Airtel Africa has partnered with SpaceX to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity across its 14 African markets, including Nigeria, reaching approximately 174 million customers.
This landmark agreement, announced on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, makes Airtel the first mobile operator in Africa to deploy the service. Users with compatible LTE smartphones will gain seamless access in remote or underserved areas without terrestrial coverage, powered by Starlink’s constellation of over 650 satellites—the world’s largest by geographic reach.
The rollout begins in 2026, pending country-specific regulatory approvals, starting with text messaging and limited data for select apps. Future phases will introduce high-speed broadband via next-generation satellites, offering up to 20x faster data speeds.
In Nigeria—Airtel’s largest market with around 59 million subscribers and roughly 33.7% share—the service will extend coverage to rural and challenging terrains, complementing existing networks.
Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar stated: “Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology reaches areas where terrestrial solutions are difficult, setting a new standard for availability across our markets.”
Starlink VP of Sales Stephanie Bednarek added: “This will connect people in remote regions for the first time, delivering life-changing access and next-gen broadband for essential services.”
The collaboration builds on prior Airtel-Starlink efforts and underscores commitments to bridging Africa’s digital divide through innovative hybrid solutions.
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