Airtel Africa has officially partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet services in its operational regions across the African continent. This marks a strategic move to boost digital access in remote and underserved areas.
SpaceX currently holds licenses to operate Starlink in 9 of the 14 African countries where Airtel operates, while approvals for the remaining 5 are underway. The collaboration focuses on expanding Airtel Africa’s connectivity solutions for rural schools, health centers, and enterprises, with an eye on fostering economic and social development.
The alliance also plans to use Starlink for cellular backhauling to extend rural mobile coverage, while also exploring opportunities to integrate Starlink with Airtel’s terrestrial infrastructure to create a more robust digital ecosystem.
Sunil Taldar, MD and CEO of Airtel Africa, emphasized the goal of “enriching lives” and accelerating Africa’s digital economy. He noted that next-gen satellite tech would enable affordable, reliable connectivity across even the most isolated regions.
Chad Gibbs, VP of Starlink operations at SpaceX, praised Airtel’s impact in Africa and said the partnership aims to unlock new ways for more people to access Starlink’s capabilities. He highlighted Starlink’s availability in over 20 African markets and expressed readiness to expand further once all licenses are secured.
Meanwhile, Starlink’s rollout in India remains pending, as regulatory hurdles around satellite spectrum and pricing continue to delay market entry.
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