Kenya reviews Airtel–Starlink satellite-to-phone deal
On Techpoint Digest, we discuss Kenya reviewing Airtel–Starlink satellite-to-phone deal, Canal+ takeover bringing sweeping changes to MultiChoice, and SA pushing Post Office into digital services.
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Kenya reviews Airtel–Starlink satellite-to-phone deal
Canal+ takeover brings sweeping changes to MultiChoice
SA pushes Post Office into digital services
Kenya reviews Airtel–Starlink satellite-to-phone deal
The Communications Authority of Kenya has launched a review of Airtel’s proposed partnership with SpaceX to deploy Starlink Direct-to-Cell, a technology that allows satellites to connect directly to ordinary mobile phones.
The regulator says the review will assess whether the satellite signals could interfere with existing mobile networks. Specifically, it wants to determine if transmissions from low-earth-orbit satellites can coexist with terrestrial mobile infrastructure without disrupting 3G, 4G, and 5G services already operating on licensed spectrum.
Why this matters is that satellite-to-phone connectivity is being pitched as a way to close Africa’s long-standing coverage gaps. Through the partnership, Airtel plans to extend mobile connectivity to remote and underserved areas where building traditional cell towers is expensive or impractical. But regulators want to ensure that expanding coverage from space doesn’t come at the cost of weakening existing networks on the ground.
The deal itself is part of a wider rollout across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets. In the early phase, the service is expected to support Internet-based messaging apps such as WhatsApp, with voice calls and SMS via satellite planned for around 2028 using next-generation satellites with greater capacity.
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The technology is already gaining traction across the continent. Last week, MTN Zambia said it had completed Africa’s first field test of the system, successfully transmitting a data session and a fintech transaction using its spectrum and Starlink’s satellite network. As more telecom operators explore the technology, Kenya’s review could ...
