Airtel has launched Africa's first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), delivered through a partnership with Starlink, the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet company, which currently has 650 launched satellites.

According to Airtel DRC Managing Director Thierry Diasnova, the commercial rollout follows groundwork preparations and a pilot of Starlink's mobile data and messaging services conducted in Kenya in March. It also builds on the strategic partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink announced in December 2025.

The launch marks a historic moment for Airtel Africa and the continent in the push to bridge the digital divide and connect underserved and rural communities — a priority at a time when operators struggle to deploy infrastructure to rural areas, especially in markets where geography and sparse populations make tower-led expansion costly.

Under the new service, compatible smartphones can connect directly to Starlink's satellite network in areas without terrestrial mobile infrastructure. Handsets can use the satellites for SMS and light-data applications such as WhatsApp, with no dependence on towers and no need for additional dishes.

Diasnova explained that the DRC's size and geography make it difficult for operators to economically deploy terrestrial infrastructure in remote areas. “This service provides an additional layer of connectivity, helping customers remain reachable, informed and connected even in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable,” he said.

The DRC faces a substantial internet and mobile coverage gap. Nationwide coverage stands at 77% for 2G, 68% for 3G, and 57% for 4G. An estimated 4.3 million people across nearly 3,000 remote and rural communities lack basic mobile reach, and coverage in rural provinces such as Tshuapa is as low as 14%.

The development eases earlier scepticism around Airtel's ambition to leverage Starlink's high-speed internet and quality infrastructure to capture subscribers in rural areas. Starlink is currently present in 29 African countries, following its most recent launch in Côte d'Ivoire. Airtel has also announced a deal to expand coverage in Nigeria with Starlink Direct-to-Cell.

In Kenya, Airtel is awaiting clearance from the Communications Authority of Kenya to launch a direct-to-cell satellite service, which would make it the first mobile operator in the country to pursue direct satellite-to-phone connectivity for standard 4G and 5G smartphones.

Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar described the DRC launch as a significant milestone in extending connectivity beyond terrestrial networks, adding that the DRC deployment would provide a blueprint for the gradual expansion of the service across Airtel Africa's 14 markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Airtel is not the only operator in Africa pursuing satellite-to-mobile services. The launch comes amid an initial successful Direct-to-Cell (D2C) test by MTN Zambia, which in March became the first African operator to complete field testing of Starlink's D2C services. Also in March, AXIAN Telecom partnered with AST SpaceMobile to launch direct-to-device space-based broadband, enabling 4G/5G voice and data directly to standard mobile phones.

Together, these moves point to a new era in which African telecom operators use Direct-to-Cell technology to close the connectivity gap, allowing devices to connect to satellite networks where traditional towers cannot reach. Amazon's entry into Africa, meanwhile, provides operators with an alternative partnership to explore.