Airtel Africa partners with Starlink to bring satellite-to-mobile connectivity in Kenya and 13 other countries
Airtel Africa has officially cemented its partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity to its 174 million customers. The..
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Airtel Africa has partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to bring Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity to its 174 million customers across 14 African countries, including Kenya. This collaboration aims to bridge coverage gaps in areas where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is lacking, with service rollout expected to begin in 2026.
- The service will initially support data for select applications and text messaging, with a future goal of providing high-speed broadband.
- Airtel Africa is the first mobile network operator in Africa to leverage Starlink's low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation for this purpose.
- The partnership positions Airtel to challenge Safaricom's dominance in Kenya by offering connectivity in remote areas without significant investment in new towers.
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Airtel, Showmax, and BasiGo Announce Technology-Driven Partnerships and Expansions in Kenya - December 2025
Airtel Africa has partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to bring Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity to its customers across 14 African countries, including Kenya, with a service rollout expected to begin in 2026. This collaboration is designed to bridge coverage gaps where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is lacking. In a separate partnership, Showmax has integrated Airtel Money into its payment system. This allows Kenyan subscribers to pay for their memberships directly from their mobile wallets. In the electric mobility sector, BasiGo has launched a new electric vehicle charging hub at the Shell Athi River service station. This opening marks its third such collaboration with Shell in Kenya and aims to support electric buses operating along the Kitengela and greater Athi River corridor.
