Airtel Uganda has launched Starlink satellite-to-phone service, enabling customers to send messages from areas with no mobile signal. The service went live on September 24, 2026, making Uganda the second African market after the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it began in August. Initially, Starlink was not licensed in Uganda, but the regulator granted a provisional license in May 2026 with specific conditions.
Customers can opt in through the MyAirtel app, receive a free 30-day trial, and pay via eligible Airtel Uganda data bundles. The service currently works only on supported Android phones, requires a clear view of the sky, and does not need a dish or separate device. Airtel targets transport and logistics operators, humanitarian organizations, farmers, and mining operations, highlighting its utility during emergencies and network outages.
Service Limitations and Future Plans
The service is narrower than its name suggests. It supports SMS and light-data applications like WhatsApp, carried by Starlink’s constellation of 650 satellites. Sunil Taldar, Airtel Africa’s CEO, told investors on July 23, 2026, that the first generation handles text messages and calls via certain apps, with ordinary voice calls expected by 2028 and beyond. A phone connects to the satellite when outside Airtel’s terrestrial coverage and returns to the ground network upon re-entering range.
Airtel manages customer relationships, including sign-ups, and uses its own spectrum for the service. This approach aligns with the regulator’s emphasis on coverage obligations. The Uganda Communications Commission stated that mobile operators must achieve 90% geographic coverage, including challenging terrains like islands and forests. The ICT minister presented the service as part of the government’s policy to support an enabling environment for ICT growth.
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Regulatory Challenges and Market Context
Debates over coverage obligations and spectrum use in urban areas like Kampala have emerged. The commission’s director of engineering noted that direct-to-device services could prompt fresh discussions about universal service obligations. Airtel’s expansion follows a broader rollout across 14 African markets, with each launch pending regulatory approval. They agreed to this in December 2025, serving 173.8 million customers across their network.
Market Competition and Strategic Partnerships
Starlink’s direct-to-phone service is part of a three-part agreement with SpaceX, Taldar told investors. The others are satellite internet for enterprises lacking fiber and satellite backhaul for remote sites, which Airtel has already begun using at what he called “a significantly lower cost”. Competitors are exploring similar paths: MTN Zambia trialed Starlink’s direct-to-cell service in March, while Vodafone partnered with Amazon Leo to extend coverage across Africa. Starlink’s broadband service, meanwhile, already outpaces local ISPs across Africa on speed, Ookla found in June.
However, the Ugandan service is positioned as a supplementary tool for staying reachable off the grid, not a full replacement. Whether it becomes more depends on the second-generation satellites, and on how regulators across Airtel’s other 12 markets answer the questions Uganda has only just started to ask.
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