Broadband and communications services using Starlink Mobile have been successfully tested in Kenya through a partnership between Airtel Africa and SpaceX.
The milestone, announced on Tuesday, is the first concrete step in the development of satellite-to-mobile connectivity across Airtel Africa's markets, which serve approximately 174 million subscribers.
The announcement builds on a partnership formed in December 2025, when Airtel Africa agreed with SpaceX to introduce Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity across its 14 markets.
The Kenya trials were conducted in areas where Airtel’s terrestrial mobile network had no signal.
In these dead zones, Starlink Mobile was activated, allowing standard 4G-compatible smartphones to connect directly to a constellation of over 800 Low-Earth-Orbit satellites without requiring a satellite dish or specialised hardware.
The test phase in Kenya is a demonstration of expanding global access, says Sunil Taldar, CEO and managing director of Airtel Africa. By integrating this technology, the company is ensuring that customers remain connected even when they travel beyond the terrestrial network, he added.
During the trials, the service successfully supported light-data applications, including WhatsApp calling, Facebook Messenger, maps, and financial transactions via the Airtel Money app.
Standard smartphones connect to satellites acting as mobile base stations, extending coverage to remote regions, says Sara Spangelo, senior director of satellite engineering at SpaceX.
The next phase, branded Starlink Mobile V2, will enable full voice calling and expanded broadband directly to mobile handsets.
The partners plan to roll these capabilities out following the initial data-and-messaging services now being piloted.
The Airtel-Starlink arrangement puts the two companies in direct competition with the relationship between AST SpaceMobile and Vodacom, which has an extensive presence across other African markets.
Following the Kenya trials, Airtel Africa and SpaceX plan to leverage the insights gained to expand the service progressively across the full footprint, subject to country-specific regulatory approvals, say the partners.
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