The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Airtel Africa and Starlink have launched a satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the first commercial deployment of the technology in an African market.
Launched on August 14, the service enables Airtel customers with compatible smartphones to remain connected in areas without traditional mobile network coverage, provided they have an unobstructed view of the sky.
The service currently supports SMS, WhatsApp messaging and other low-data applications without requiring users to purchase specialised satellite equipment.
Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar said the partnership with SpaceX and the launch of Starlink Mobile would help expand connectivity to areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile infrastructure.
He described the commercial rollout as a major milestone for Airtel Africa and its partnership with SpaceX.
The launch follows a partnership announced by Airtel Africa and Starlink in December 2025, as well as trials of Starlink Mobile messaging and data services in Kenya in March 2026.
Airtel said the DRC service could benefit people and organisations working in remote locations, including transport and logistics firms, humanitarian agencies, healthcare workers, farmers and mining companies.
The satellite connection could also serve as an alternative communication channel during emergencies, natural disasters and temporary outages affecting terrestrial networks.
Airtel DRC Managing Director Theirry Diasnoma said the technology could help bridge connectivity gaps created by the DRC’s vast size and challenging geography.
Currently, customers need a compatible LTE-enabled Android smartphone and either an active Airtel DRC data bundle or data roaming enabled to access the service. Support for Apple devices is expected to be introduced later.
Eligible users can sign up through the MyAirtel App and receive a free 30-day trial. After the trial period, customers will access the service through eligible Airtel data bundles.
Airtel said Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile network currently comprises about 650 launched satellites, with additional capabilities expected as the technology continues to develop.
Kenya rollout yet to be confirmed
Although the DRC launch follows successful Starlink Mobile trials in Kenya, Airtel customers in Kenya cannot yet access the service commercially.
Airtel Africa said the rollout into other countries will be subject to individual regulatory approvals.
The DRC therefore becomes the first African market to commercially deploy Airtel’s Starlink Mobile service, while expansion elsewhere will depend on regulatory clearance, compatible devices and further technological development.
