By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Airtel
Nigeria has announced plans to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellite
connectivity across the country following a strategic partnership between
Airtel Africa and Starlink, aimed at expanding mobile coverage to underserved
and unconnected communities.
The
announcement was made by Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Director, Dinesh Balsingh, during a briefing with senior journalists at the
company’s headquarters in Lagos. He explained that the initiative would help
address connectivity gaps in areas where the deployment of traditional
terrestrial network infrastructure is difficult or impractical.
Direct-to-Cell
technology allows compatible smartphones to connect directly to low-Earth orbit
satellites, enabling mobile services without reliance on conventional base
stations. By integrating satellite connectivity with its existing mobile
network, Airtel Nigeria expects to extend coverage to remote and rural
locations while enhancing overall network resilience.
The
commercial rollout of the service is planned for 2026 and will initially
support text messaging and selected data services. Subsequent phases are
expected to introduce higher-speed broadband services, subject to regulatory
approvals.
The
satellite initiative builds on Airtel Nigeria’s ongoing investments in network
expansion. The company reported that 99 percent of its sites are now
4G-enabled, with more than 700 new sites deployed over the past five months.
Airtel
Nigeria said the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks underscores
its commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring inclusive access to
mobile connectivity across Nigeria.
