Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink Mobile in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), becoming the first telecommunications operator to deploy satellite-to-mobile connectivity commercially on the African continent.
The service, launched in Kinshasa on August 14, allows Airtel customers with compatible smartphones to stay connected in areas outside the reach of conventional mobile networks, provided they have a clear view of the sky.
The development brings satellite connectivity directly to ordinary smartphones without requiring specialised equipment, satellite dishes or separate devices.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, currently has about 650 satellites in its satellite-to-mobile constellation. The service initially supports light-data applications such as WhatsApp messaging and SMS, with additional capabilities expected as the technology develops.
The launch follows a strategic partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink announced in December 2025. It also comes after successful testing of Starlink Mobile data and messaging services in Kenya in March 2026.
The DRC is the first Airtel Africa market, and the first African country, to move the service from testing into commercial deployment.
Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar described the launch as a major milestone in the company’s efforts to expand connectivity across the continent.
“By combining Airtel’s terrestrial network with Starlink’s satellite technology, we are extending essential connectivity beyond the limits of conventional mobile infrastructure,” Taldar said.
He added that experience from the DRC would support the potential expansion of the service to other Airtel markets, subject to regulatory approvals.
Airtel DRC Managing Director Theirry Diasnoma said the technology could help address connectivity challenges arising from the country’s vast geography.
“Many people live, work and travel beyond the reach of conventional mobile infrastructure,” Diasnoma said, adding that Starlink Mobile would provide an additional layer of connectivity in underserved areas.
The service could benefit remote communities as well as farmers, health workers, miners, transport and logistics companies and humanitarian organisations.
It could also provide an important communications backup during emergencies, natural disasters and temporary disruptions to terrestrial networks.
To access the service, customers need a compatible LTE Android smartphone and an active Airtel DRC data bundle or data roaming enabled. Apple devices are expected to be supported in future.
Eligible customers can register through the MyAirtel App for a free 30-day introductory trial. After the trial, access will continue through eligible Airtel data bundles.
Airtel Africa and Starlink are continuing to develop the technology, with more capabilities expected as the service evolves and regulatory approvals are secured across other markets.
The Mobile Deal
This comes after SpaceX Bets $17 Billion on Satellite-Powered Mobile Connectivity
It is reported that in 2025, SpaceX was moving closer to a future where smartphones could connect directly to satellites, potentially reducing reliance on conventional SIM cards, roaming agreements and terrestrial mobile towers.
The company’s vision is to build a global direct-to-phone network in which compatible smartphones communicate with Starlink satellites orbiting Earth. The technology could extend internet and mobile connectivity to remote areas where conventional networks are unavailable or unreliable.
If fully developed, the system could reshape how people access mobile services, particularly in regions where building traditional telecom infrastructure is expensive or difficult.
$17 billion spectrum bet
SpaceX took a major step towards this ambition in September 2025 when it announced a $17 billion deal to acquire wireless spectrum licences from EchoStar.
The transaction covers the AWS-4 and H-block spectrum bands, which are used for 4G and 5G mobile communications.
The deal involves $8.5 billion in cash and another $8.5 billion in SpaceX stock, while SpaceX will also assume about $2 billion in EchoStar debt.
The spectrum is strategically important because it could allow Starlink satellites to communicate directly with standard mobile phones, reducing dependence on cell towers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the investment would help eliminate mobile dead zones while supporting a new generation of Starlink satellites with greater data capacity and improved compatibility with smartphones.
The acquisition also strengthens SpaceX’s position across the mobile connectivity chain, from satellite infrastructure and spectrum to the delivery of services directly to users.
A phone that works almost anywhere
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the company is developing new satellites and smartphone chips to support direct phone-to-satellite connections.
Speaking at the All-In Summit in September 2025, Musk described the ambition as creating a single mobile network capable of working virtually anywhere in the world.
“The net effect,” Musk said, “is that you should be able to watch videos anywhere on your phone.”
However, the technology has physical limitations. Musk noted that satellite signals may struggle to penetrate metal roofs and underground environments, meaning users would still need a relatively unobstructed connection to the sky.
The technology is therefore not necessarily an immediate replacement for conventional mobile networks. Instead, it could operate alongside terrestrial networks, filling coverage gaps and providing connectivity where traditional infrastructure cannot reach.
The road ahead
Turning the vision into a global mobile network will require billions of dollars in investment, large satellite constellations, compatible devices and regulatory approvals across multiple countries.
It will also require SpaceX to work with mobile operators and regulators because spectrum use and telecommunications licensing remain nationally regulated.
If successful, however, Starlink’s direct-to-phone technology could transform the meaning of mobile coverage—from a service dependent on nearby towers to one increasingly delivered from space.
For consumers, the biggest change could be simple: a smartphone that remains connected even when the nearest mobile tower is hundreds of kilometres away.