Airtel eyes wider satellite rollout after Congo debut

Airtel Africa is set to expand its satellite-to-mobile connectivity services to additional African markets following a successful commercial deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The telecom operator's Starlink Mobile service, launched in collaboration with SpaceX, marks the first time the technology has transitioned from testing to a commercial offering on the continent.

The DRC became the inaugural Airtel Africa market and the initial country on the continent to benefit from this direct-to-mobile solution. Airtel Africa, which operates in 14 African countries, aims to leverage the experience from the DRC deployment to progressively roll out the service across other markets, contingent upon regulatory approvals.

The company's existing network expansion strategy has already seen significant growth, with over 3,250 sites and 3,200 kilometers of fibre added in the year to March 2026, bringing its total to 40,378 sites and approximately 81,882 kilometers of fibre. Airtel Africa's 4G network has already reached 75.6% of the population within its markets, encompassing a combined population of about 679 million people across its 14 markets.

The partnership with SpaceX, announced in December 2025, aims to provide customers with compatible smartphones the ability to connect in areas where Airtel's terrestrial network is unavailable. Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, emphasized that the DRC deployment would help extend connectivity beyond the limitations of traditional mobile infrastructure.

In the DRC, where large rural populations, challenging terrain, and the high cost of deploying towers and fibre can hinder universal terrestrial coverage, the Starlink service will provide an additional layer of connectivity, ensuring that customers remain reachable, informed, and connected even in remote areas. The service currently supports SMS and light-data applications, including WhatsApp messaging, and is designed to complement, rather than replace, Airtel's existing mobile infrastructure.

Customers with compatible LTE Android smartphones can connect without the need for a Starlink dish or other specialized equipment. The DRC launch builds upon a previous test of Starlink's mobile data and messaging services in Kenya in March 2026. As mobile data demand continues to surge, Airtel Africa's satellite service arrives at a crucial time.

Data traffic increased by 48.5% in the year to March 2026, while the data customer base expanded by 14.8% to 84.2 million. Smartphone penetration has reached 49.5%. Eligible DRC customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial of the Starlink Mobile service through the MyAirtel app, with full access provided through eligible Airtel data bundles.