Airtel Africa and Starlink Launch Satellite

Airtel Africa and Starlink have launched their satellite-to-mobile service in Uganda. It is the second African market where the service is commercially available, after the first rollout in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 August 2026.

The launch follows the partnership Airtel Africa and SpaceX announced in December 2025 to roll out Starlink’s direct-to-cell service across 14 of the Group’s markets. The technology was piloted in Kenya in March 2026, before the commercial launch in the Democratic Republic of Congo .

Airtel Uganda customers with compatible smartphones can stay connected in areas terrestrial mobile networks do not reach, as long as they have a clear view of the sky. The service runs on Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile constellation of 650 launched satellites. It supports light-data applications, including WhatsApp messaging, as well as SMS. No specialised equipment, satellite dish or separate device is required.