Airtel Africa Launches Africa’s First Satellite-to-Mobile Service in DRC with Starlink
Airtel Africa and Starlink's campaign visual for the satellite-to-mobile launch in the DRC: 'Now connectivity doesn't end where the road ends.' Source: Airtel Africa, via Sunil Taldar/LinkedIn
Airtel Africa has switched on Africa's first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a major milestone in the continent's push to close its…
The Diplomacy Shortcut: How Presidents Became Starlink’s Fastest Regulators in Africa
Source: TechZim
For any satellite operator seeking to expand across Africa, securing market access is, in principle, a regulatory exercise. Applications must be submitted, technical and licensing requirements satisfied, and approvals secured before commercial services can begin. The process can, in some cases, be lengthy and complex. Starlink’s expansion across Africa, however, suggests…
The Capacity Question: Why Starlink Ran Out of Room, and What It Tells Us About Amazon Leo
Residential service is sold out or waitlisted across 11 African markets. The orbital data shows this is not a shortage of satellites over Africa, and that has implications for the competitor arriving in 2027.
Starlink's constraint in Africa is no longer regulatory approval or consumer demand. It is available network capacity.
Space in Africa established the pattern in detail on 23 July,…
Starlink’s Growth Hits Capacity Limits as Residential Kits Sell Out Across Key African Markets
Source: Starlink
Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, has become one of the fastest-growing broadband providers globally, and Africa is no exception. Now commercially available in 28 African markets, with several more expected to come online before the end of the year, the company's expansion across the continent has been rapid.
However, Starlink's rapid expansion is beginning…
Starlink Expands to 26 African Markets as Three Countries Account for 64% of Subscribers, Space in Africa Report Shows
As of June 2026, Starlink had expanded to 26 African markets, making it one of the continent's fastest-growing satellite broadband providers and accounting for an estimated 3% of its global subscriber base by December 2025. But the ~300,000 customers connected across the continent tell you less than it appears to.
The top three countries, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, account for…
Starlink Progress Report in Africa 2026
The 2026 Starlink Progress Report in Africa aggregates country-level subscriber statistics, regulatory developments, pricing, and partnerships, and explores the factors influencing satellite broadband adoption, including regulatory readiness, affordability, and competitive dynamics.
Starlink Goes Live in Seychelles
A Starlink satellite-internet communication system antenna and router. Source: Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg
Starlink is now live in the Seychelles, with SpaceX confirming through its official channels that the service is active and serving customers in the Indian Ocean archipelago. The go-live makes Seychelles the 28th African market where the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service…
Starlink Goes Live in Côte d’Ivoire
Source: Starlink
Starlink is now available in Côte d'Ivoire, with SpaceX confirming that customers in the country can order the service and begin connecting. The go-live follows the authorisation granted by the Ivorian government in June 2026, making Côte d'Ivoire the 27th African market where the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service is commercially available.
The service…
Paratus Zambia Brings Starlink Connectivity to Rural Primary School
Source: Paratus Zambia
Paratus Zambia has participated in the official handover of newly constructed facilities at Mphande Primary School, donating a Starlink satellite internet kit to connect the school's new computer laboratory, in partnership with CFAO Mobility Zambia and World Vision Zambia.
The handover marks a significant step for the school's nearly 500 learners, who will now…
Starlink’s Reach in Lesotho Extends to Police and Disaster Management
Source: Starlink X post
Starlink is now providing connectivity to 25 police stations, traffic systems, and disaster management teams in Lesotho, expanding connectivity to emergency services in the country.
Starlink launched in Lesotho in June 2025 after the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) granted it a 10-year operating licence. The company's entry into the market required…