Airtel, Starlink Expand Satellite-To-Phone Tests To Uganda

Airtel Uganda has begun testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite connectivity technology in Uganda, marking the latest phase in a regional rollout that is gradually moving satellite-to-phone services beyond pilot demonstrations and into operational telecom networks.

The tests allow ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites in areas with no terrestrial mobile coverage, without requiring specialised satellite phones or external equipment.

The development follows similar tests conducted in Kenya earlier this year, where Airtel Africa and Starlink trialled messaging, light data services, navigation tools, and mobile money transactions through satellite connectivity in remote areas with no network signal.

In Uganda, Airtel says the latest tests are aimed at extending connectivity to underserved and hard-to-reach regions where building traditional mobile infrastructure remains difficult or commercially unviable.

Airtel Uganda is reportedly among the first mobile network operators in Africa to begin testing the Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, powered by more than 650 satellites designed to improve connectivity in underserved locations. The Direct-to-Cell technology,  also referred to as Direct-to-Device or Supplemental Coverage from Space, effectively transforms Starlink satellites into orbiting cell towers, enabling standard smartphones without hardware modifications to connect directly to satellites for services such as text messaging, voice calls and, eventually, mobile data in areas without conventional network coverage.

Speaking about the development, Airtel Uganda CEO and Managing Director Soumendra Sahu said the company was excited to begin exploring a technology that could redefine connectivity in underserved areas.

“Today, we are pleased to begin our journey of exploring our long-awaited partnership with Starlink. This marks the start of testing a highly advanced technology that enhances smartphone network connectivity through Direct-to-Cell satellite services,” he said.

According to Sahu, the service could improve access to communication services in remote areas such as the Buvuma Islands and Murchison Falls National Park, among other underserved locations.

“This service is a game changer in extending connectivity to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The technology automatically links smartphones to satellites, improving access to calls, text messaging and selected data services,” he added

The tests are being conducted following approval from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which has allowed Airtel Uganda to proceed under controlled conditions as the regulator continues assessing the broader implications of satellite-enabled mobile connectivity.

Starlink’s expansion into African markets has not always been straightforward. In several countries, telecom operators and regulators have raised concerns around licensing, spectrum management, infrastructure obligations, and competitive fairness as the satellite provider pushes deeper into the continent’s connectivity market. Uganda itself previously maintained a cautious stance toward Starlink operations.

The Airtel partnership appears to have changed that dynamic. Rather than operating purely as an independent internet provider, Starlink is now entering some African markets through existing telecom operators that already hold spectrum licences, infrastructure approvals, and regulatory relationships.

That distinction matters because the current Uganda deployment is not structured as unrestricted direct consumer access. Instead, Airtel remains the licensed telecom operator while Starlink functions as supporting satellite infrastructure extending coverage beyond the reach of terrestrial towers.

The Uganda tests also represent the next stage of a strategy Airtel Africa and SpaceX first announced in December 2025, when the companies revealed plans to deploy Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets beginning in 2026.