AXIAN Telecom and AST SpaceMobile Partner to Launch Direct-to-Device Satellite Mobile Network in Africa
AXIAN Telecom, the parent company of a leading pan-African telecom group (Yas), and AST SpaceMobile have announced a strategic partnership to deploy direct-to-device (D2D) space-based mobile broadband network aimed at expanding connectivity across remote and underserved regions of the continent. The collaboration aims to enable voice, video, data, and internet connectivity directly from satellites to ordinary smartphones, eliminating the need for specialised satellite phones or additional hardware.
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are purpose-built to deliver 4G LTE and 5G broadband directly to everyday smartphones, with no additional hardware or app required. Under the partnership, this satellite network will be integrated with Yas’ core infrastructure across its markets, enabling seamless connectivity for voice, video, data, and internet services. Both companies will also jointly develop commercial offerings for consumers, enterprises, IoT, maritime, aviation, and emergency response, with Yas handling local distribution, regulatory coordination, and customer activation through a one-click SpaceMobile service.
Expanding Connectivity Beyond Traditional Infrastructure
The partnership primarily targets areas where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult or uneconomical to deploy, such as rural communities, remote regions, and offshore environments. Across Africa, large populations remain outside reliable mobile network coverage due to the high cost of deploying and maintaining cellular towers in sparsely populated areas. Satellite-to-phone technology offers an alternative approach by extending network coverage without additional ground infrastructure.
Speaking on the announcement, Hassan Jaber, CEO of AXIAN Telecom, emphasised that the partnership reflects the company’s ambition to expand connectivity beyond urban centres and reach underserved communities across its markets. He noted that many individuals and businesses across Africa remain disconnected despite the growing importance of digital infrastructure, highlighting the role of satellite-to-device technology in bridging this gap without requiring users to change devices or adopt new hardware.
“Connectivity is the foundation on which everything else is built, and there are still too many people and businesses across our markets who are cut off from it. Partnering with AST SpaceMobile gives us the ability to close that gap in a way that was not possible before,” he said.
Scott Wisniewski, President of AST SpaceMobile, highlighted Africa’s importance in the evolving global connectivity landscape, noting that the partnership will extend space-based cellular broadband services to regions that remain beyond the reach of traditional telecom infrastructure. He added that the collaboration will enable connectivity directly to standard smartphones, helping expand the company’s mission of connecting unserved communities worldwide.
The rollout of the service will depend on regulatory approvals and spectrum coordination across the markets where AXIAN operates. Once operational, the network could mark an important milestone in the convergence of satellite and terrestrial telecommunications on the continent.
A Growing Race in Satellite-to-Phone Connectivity
The AXIAN–AST partnership comes amid growing global competition in the emerging direct-to-device satellite connectivity market, where satellite operators and telecom companies are exploring ways to integrate space-based infrastructure with terrestrial mobile networks. For Africa, where connectivity gaps remain significant in rural areas, direct-to-device satellite services could represent a transformative development in the region’s digital infrastructure.
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With multiple satellite operators increasingly targeting the continent, Africa is quickly emerging as a key battleground for the direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity market. Companies such as AST SpaceMobile, Lynk Global, Starlink, and GalaxySpace are already exploring the opportunity through collaborations with local mobile network operators (MNOs) and pilot trials across several African markets. Given the continent’s large unconnected population and the widespread penetration of mobile phones, direct-to-cell technologies have the potential to fundamentally reshape Africa’s connectivity landscape.