Airtel Africa has made history as the first operator in Africa to commercially launch Starlink Mobile, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) becoming the first Airtel market to deploy the service commercially.
Through our partnership with Starlink, compatible Airtel customers in areas beyond conventional mobile coverage can access SMS and light-data services, including WhatsApp messaging, directly on their smartphones, without the need for specialised equipment or a separate device.
The launch builds on the strategic partnership announced in December 2025 and successful testing of Starlink Mobile data and messaging services in Kenya earlier this year.
In a continent where geography and infrastructure can make connectivity challenging, satellite-to-mobile technology can provide an additional layer of connectivity for people and organisations operating in remote areas including farmers, health workers, humanitarian organisations, transport and logistics operators, mining operations and communities beyond terrestrial network reach.
It can also play an important role in maintaining essential communications during emergencies, natural disasters and temporary network disruptions.
For Airtel, this milestone reinforces our commitment to using innovation to connect more people, in more places, and unlock new possibilities across Africa.
The DRC is leading the way today, while the experience gained will help inform the progressive expansion of the service across Airtel Africa's markets, subject to regulatory approvals.
Source: Airtel Africa.