Airtel Africa Launches Africa's First Commercial Starlink Direct-to-Cell Service in DRC

What You Can Do on the Service

The service is limited to messaging and light-data applications at launch:

• WhatsApp messaging and SMS text messaging are supported
• Light-data applications function below approximately 1 Mbps
• No voice calls or high-bandwidth streaming are available yet

Airtel is offering a free 30-day trial for eligible DRC customers, activated through the MyAirtel App . After the trial period, access will be integrated into eligible Airtel data bundles .

The Spectrum Behind the Service

The direct-to-cell operations use spectrum that Airtel DRC already holds under its national license: 1965 MHz for uplink and 2155 MHz for downlink . This means the service runs on Airtel's existing licensed spectrum rather than requiring new regulatory allocations. These frequencies fall within standard LTE bands, which is why compatible phones work without modification.

The Path to Launch

The commercial deployment followed a clear timeline of partnership, testing, and rollout:

• December 16, 2025 — Airtel Africa and SpaceX signed a partnership agreement to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell across all 14 of Airtel's African markets, covering its 173.8 million customers
• March 2026 — Pilot testing began in Kenya, with successful data and messaging trials
• May 2026 — Testing expanded to Uganda
• August 14, 2026 — First commercial launch in the DRC, preceding any other Airtel market

What the Leaders Are Saying

Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, called the launch a "major milestone" in connecting the unconnected and bridging the digital divide across the continent. He emphasized that the service will significantly boost connectivity in remote and underserved communities, particularly benefiting transport operators, humanitarian organizations, health workers, farmers, and mining operations that operate in areas where conventional mobile towers are not viable . He noted that satellite-to-mobile technology opens a new route to connectivity in areas beyond the reach of traditional cell towers .

Thierry Diasnoma (also reported as Thierry Diasnova), Managing Director of Airtel DRC, said the launch reaffirms Airtel's commitment to work with the DRC government to connect the country's underserved populations. He highlighted the transformative potential for people in remote villages, along transport corridors, and for critical sectors such as mining, agriculture, and humanitarian response, where reliable communication was previously impossible . He described the service as "life-changing" for communities that have never had mobile coverage .

What Comes Next

Expansion across 14 African markets — The DRC launch is the first market in a planned rollout across all 14 African countries where Airtel operates. The December 2025 agreement with SpaceX covers the entire Airtel Africa footprint . Service is expected to expand to additional markets through 2026–2027, subject to regulatory approvals in each country .

Starlink V2 satellite upgrade — While the current service runs on the existing ~650-satellite constellation, SpaceX has stated that the next-generation Starlink V2 satellites — which will carry advanced Direct-to-Cell payloads with higher bandwidth and improved capacity — are expected to begin launching in 2027 . These V2 satellites are expected to enable higher data speeds, voice calls, and broader geographic coverage, significantly expanding the service's capabilities beyond the current messaging-focused tier .