Airtel Africa and Starlink have commercially launched satellite-to-mobile connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the first time the service has moved beyond pilot testing to full commercial deployment anywhere on the continent.
The service was unveiled in Kinshasa on August 14, allowing Airtel customers with compatible smartphones to connect directly to Starlink’s satellites in areas lacking conventional network coverage, provided they have a clear view of the sky.
Unlike Starlink’s traditional broadband offering, the new service requires no dish or additional hardware; compatible phones link directly to satellites that function much like mobile towers positioned in space.
For now, the service is limited to basic connectivity. SMS and light-data applications such as WhatsApp messaging are available through Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile constellation, which currently comprises 650 launched satellites, making it the largest network of its kind in the world.
Full high-speed internet, video streaming and other services typical of conventional mobile networks are not yet available through the platform.
To use the service, customers in the DRC need a compatible LTE-enabled Android smartphone, along with either an active Airtel DRC data bundle or data roaming switched on. Apple device support is planned for a later phase. New users can register through the MyAirtel App and access a free 30-day introductory trial.
The commercial rollout builds on a strategic partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink announced in December 2025, along with a successful pilot of Starlink Mobile’s data and messaging services carried out in Kenya in March 2026. The DRC is now the first of Airtel Africa’s markets to take the service commercial.
