Airtel Africa and Starlink have launched a satellite-to-mobile service in Uganda, allowing Airtel customers with compatible smartphones to stay connected in areas where conventional mobile network coverage is unavailable.
The launch makes Uganda the second African market where Airtel has commercially introduced the service, following the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was launched in August.
The service allows compatible smartphones to connect directly to Starlink satellites when users move beyond the reach of Airtel’s terrestrial network.
Customers need a clear view of the sky, but they do not require a satellite dish, special equipment or a separate device.
Airtel said the service will be particularly useful for people working or travelling in remote parts of Uganda, including transport and logistics operators, humanitarian organisations, health workers, farmers and mining companies.
It could also provide an additional communication link for communities in areas that are difficult to reach with mobile towers, as well as during emergencies, natural disasters and temporary disruptions to terrestrial networks.
Eligible Airtel customers can register for the service through the MyAirtel App and receive an introductory 30-day free trial. After the trial period, customers will be able to use Starlink Mobile through eligible Airtel Uganda data bundles.
The service uses Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile constellation, which Airtel said currently has about 650 launched satellites.
Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said the launch was part of the company’s plan to extend connectivity beyond the reach of terrestrial networks across its African markets.
“We are pleased to bring Starlink Mobile to Uganda, following our first commercial launch in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Taldar said.
He said Airtel’s ambition was to combine its terrestrial network with satellite technology so customers could remain connected wherever they live, work or travel.
Taldar also thanked the Ugandan Government for supporting the deployment of the service.
Airtel Uganda managing director Soumendra Sahu said the partnership with Starlink would complement the company’s continued investment in terrestrial infrastructure.
He said the technology would help customers remain connected when they moved beyond conventional mobile coverage.
The service is expected to be particularly useful in areas such as national parks, mountains, islands and other remote locations where constructing and maintaining mobile towers can be difficult.
Sahu said Airtel’s terrestrial network would remain the main means of providing mobile services, with the satellite service extending connectivity where the ground network is unavailable.
Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba said the government had a responsibility to create an enabling policy environment for private investment and innovation in the ICT sector.
She welcomed the partnership between Airtel and Starlink, saying satellite technology would contribute to increased connectivity and productivity across the economy.
Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo also attended the launch.
The UCC has said satellite technology can complement existing telecommunications infrastructure and help operators extend services to hard-to-reach areas, including islands, mountainous areas and forests.
The Uganda launch follows a strategic partnership announced by Airtel Africa and SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, in December 2025.
The partnership is aimed at using Starlink’s satellite capacity to extend mobile connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks are difficult or uneconomical to deploy.
The launch in Uganda is part of Airtel Africa’s wider rollout of satellite-to-mobile technology across its markets, subject to regulatory approvals.
Unlike Starlink’s conventional broadband service, which requires equipment such as a satellite dish, the new service is designed to connect compatible smartphones directly to satellites.
