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Airtel Kenya seeks regulatory approval for Starlink D2C service - SatellitePro ME
Airtel Kenya has successfully completed a pilot of the technology and is now awaiting regulatory approval to move ahead with its commercial rollout.
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Airtel Kenya seeks regulatory approval for Starlink D2C service
Airtel Kenya has successfully completed a pilot of the technology and is now awaiting regulatory approval to move ahead with its commercial rollout.
Airtel Kenya is seeking regulatory approval to commercially launch a Starlink-powered Direct-to-Cell (D2C) service that would allow compatible smartphones to remain connected in areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The proposed service has already undergone a successful pilot in Kenya, and Airtel is now awaiting clearance from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) before making the service available commercially. If approved, Airtel Kenya would become the country’s first mobile operator to offer direct satellite-to-phone connectivity.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe said the company had completed a successful pilot and would be ready to offer the service to Kenyan customers once regulatory approval is secured. The service is designed to automatically connect users to the SpaceX satellite network when they move outside Airtel’s terrestrial coverage, while their phones continue to display Airtel as the network.
Unlike conventional satellite communications, the Direct-to-Cell service is designed to work with compatible 4G and 5G smartphones without requiring a satellite dish, dedicated handset or additional equipment. Airtel has also said customers will not need to change their SIM cards or pay an additional charge for accessing the satellite connection.
The technology is intended to address coverage gaps in remote and sparsely populated areas where deploying additional terrestrial towers can be difficult or economically challenging. By linking ordinary mobile phones directly to low-Earth-orbit satellites, the service could extend connectivity to locations where traditional cellular infrastructure is unavailable.
The regulatory process, however, remains a key step before launch. The Communications Authority of Kenya confirmed earlier this year that Airtel Networks Kenya had submitted a formal application for approval and that the application was under review. The regulator has been examining whether satellite transmissions could interfere with existing terrestrial mobile networks.
The issue is particularly important because Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology uses spectrum associated with existing terrestrial mobile networks. Kenya’s regulatory review therefore includes consideration of spectrum sharing and the potential impact of satellite signals on 3G, 4G and 5G services. A technical audit has also been reported as part of the assessment.
The Kenyan initiative is part of a wider Airtel Africa partnership with SpaceX announced in December 2025. Under the agreement, Airtel Africa plans to introduce Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity across all 14 of its markets, which collectively serve more than 173 million customers. The initial service was planned to launch in 2026 with text messaging and data for selected applications, while the partnership also includes Starlink’s next-generation broadband Direct-to-Cell technology.
Airtel Africa and SpaceX said the next-generation system is expected to deliver substantially higher data speeds to compatible smartphones, with the agreement citing improvements of up to 20 times. The rollout across Airtel Africa’s markets remains subject to individual national regulatory approvals.
Kenya became an important early test market for the partnership. In March, Airtel Africa and SpaceX announced successful testing of data and messaging services in areas without terrestrial connectivity. Compatible 4G smartphones were able to connect to Starlink satellites and support applications including WhatsApp messaging and calling, maps, Facebook Messenger and transactions through the MyAirtel app.
The companies said the Kenyan testing would provide insights for expanding the service across Airtel Africa’s wider footprint. Future phases are expected to introduce broader voice and data capabilities as Starlink’s next-generation mobile satellite technology becomes available.
The proposed service also reflects a broader shift in the telecommunications industry, with satellite networks increasingly being used to complement rather than replace terrestrial infrastructure. For operators across Africa, direct-to-cell connectivity offers a potential way to address rural coverage gaps without the cost and logistical challenges associated with building and maintaining additional towers in hard-to-reach locations.
