Airtel has switched on what it says is Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), giving customers in areas without traditional mobile coverage a new way to stay connected.
The service is being rolled out through Airtel’s partnership with Starlink, the satellite company owned by Elon Musk.
It builds on Airtel Africa’s wider push to use satellite technology to extend mobile connectivity beyond the reach of conventional telecom infrastructure.
Airtel DRC Managing Director Thierry Diasnova said the launch comes after preparations and an earlier pilot of Starlink’s mobile data and messaging capabilities in Kenya in March.
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Airtel Africa and Starlink announced their strategic partnership in December 2025.
Under the new service, compatible smartphones can connect directly to Starlink satellites when terrestrial mobile networks are unavailable.
Customers can use the connection for SMS and selected low-bandwidth services, including messaging applications such as WhatsApp, without a mobile tower or separate satellite dish.
“This service provides an additional layer of connectivity,” Diasnova said, adding that it will help customers remain reachable in places where terrestrial coverage does not extend.
The DRC still has a substantial connectivity gap as the nationwide mobile coverage stands at about 77% for 2G, 68% for 3G and 57% for 4G. Around 4.3 million people across almost 3,000 remote and rural communities remain outside basic mobile coverage, while some provinces face much deeper gaps.
In Tshuapa, for example, mobile coverage is estimated to reach only about 14% of the population.
For communities that have remained difficult to reach because of geography and the high cost of infrastructure, the satellite connectivity could provide a practical way to close some of the country’s remaining coverage gaps.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
