Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of Congo, becoming the first mobile operator in Africa to put the technology into commercial use and opening a new route to connectivity in areas beyond the reach of conventional cell towers.
The launch, announced on August 14, moves Airtel’s partnership with SpaceX from testing to a customer service and gives compatible Airtel subscribers access to basic mobile connectivity directly through Starlink satellites when terrestrial network coverage is unavailable.
The service is initially designed for light-data applications such as WhatsApp messaging and SMS. Customers do not need a satellite dish, router or other specialised equipment. Instead, a compatible LTE Android smartphone can connect to the satellite network where there is a clear view of the sky. Apple devices are expected to be supported later.
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The development could change the economics of connecting remote parts of Africa, where building towers, fibre links and supporting power infrastructure can be expensive because of difficult terrain, sparse populations and long distances.
