The company said the trial focused on locations with no terrestrial signal. In those areas, Starlink Mobile connected directly to 4G smartphones using its satellite network.

Users were able to send messages, make WhatsApp calls, check maps, and complete transactions on the Airtel app.

Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of Airtel Africa, said: “We are thrilled to move from announcement to actionable steps with our partners at SpaceX. This testing phase in Kenya is a testament to our commitment to expanding global access.

“By integrating Starlink Mobile’s technology, we are ensuring that our customers remain connected even when they travel beyond our terrestrial network.”

The company now plans to study the results from Kenya before expanding to its other markets. Airtel operates in 14 African countries and serves more than 170 million customers. However, rollout will depend on approvals from regulators in each country.

At the same time, the scope of the service is expected to grow. Airtel and SpaceX are preparing to introduce voice calls and wider data services using the next version of the technology, known as Starlink Mobile V2. That upgrade is designed to deliver broadband directly to standard mobile phones.

Across Africa, other telecom operators are moving in the same direction. MTN Zambia has already tested similar satellite-to-cell services, including data sessions and financial transactions. Nigeria is also expected to see deployments in 2026, with operators positioning for early entry.

So, this is not an isolated test. It is part of a wider push to eliminate mobile dead zones across the continent.

In Kenya, though, regulators are reviewing the development. The Communications Authority has opened a review into the Airtel-Starlink partnership to assess whether satellite signals could interfere with existing 3G, 4G and 5G networks. There are also proposals to raise satellite licence fees sharply, which could increase the cost of deployment.

Beyond Africa, the market itself is growing commendably. Estimates put the satellite phone segment at $3.87 billion in 2025, increasing to $4.49 billion in 2026. The satellite communications market is projected to reach $27.6 billion next year, with long-term growth expected.

The company this achievement represents a crucial step in its strategic growth plans in alignment with our Ambition 2025 targets.

Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO, said,

“The successful sale-and-leaseback transaction with Bayobab Zambia, transferring MTN Zambia’s fibre network, marks a pivotal first step in our targeted structural separation of fibre assets as outlined in Ambition 2025 strategy. This decision not only underscores our dedication to spearheading growth and fostering innovation but also plays a crucial role in driving us toward the vision of a seamlessly connected and digitally empowered Africa.”

Within Zambia, the acquisition of MTN Zambia’s extensive fibre assets will enhance Bayobab’s operational capabilities by improving traffic management on its fibre networks and making bandwidth usage more efficient.

Consolidating fibre assets under Bayobab will elevate the quality, resilience, and latency of services, delivering reliable, high-speed connectivity to customers throughout its network.

Bayobab Zambia is not only boosting essential cross-border connectivity but also establishing itself as a crucial digital nexus in the region.

With connections to seven neighbouring countries— Angola, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—Bayobab is keen on further integration efforts to transform Zambia into a central digital hub in southern Africa. With ambitions for continued expansion across the continent, Bayobab’s network aims to enable smooth communication and collaboration across regions, thus stimulating innovation and economic progress.

Bayobab is committed to connecting Africa through next-gen digital solutions, including ongoing fibre expansion utilising licensed FiberCo’s across its footprint.

Additionally, Bayobab is progressing with other MTN operating companies to structurally separate their fibre assets in line with Ambition 2025 targets.

Frédéric Schepens, CEO of Bayobab Group, commented on this milestone, saying, “We are delighted to reach this pivotal milestone in our journey.

The successful completion of the structural separation and transfer of fibre assets not only signifies a significant leap forward for Bayobab Zambia but also heralds great benefits for Zambia and its surrounding nine countries in the region. This move reinforces our commitment to advancing connectivity across Africa and underscores our role as an open-access provider, benefiting all our partners”.

With a proprietary terrestrial fibre network spanning 114,000 kilometres and positioned to extend to 135,000 kilometres by 2025, Bayobab serves approximately 295 million African subscribers on the MTN network.

MTN Zambia subscribers now have access to thousands of hours of unlimited premium content with the launch of Wi-flix in the Zambian market. Users can take advantage of daily, weekly, and monthly data packages starting as low as K1 + free 50MB for a daily package, K5 + free 150MB for a weekly package, and K20 + free 300MB bonus – making the service accessible to all customer segments.

Speaking on the launch, Louis Manu, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer of Wi-flix, said the move forms part of the company’s audacious ambition to become the leading content provider for the African continent and the diaspora.

“We witness another exciting milestone as we launch in Zambia and bring to the public the most exciting premium content on demand and at the most affordable rate which is exactly what many Zambians are looking for. This comes at a time when we recently announced the integration of Dolby Atmos and updated our catalog with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio-enabled titles such as The Signal, Bilal, Freedom Force, and Created Equal for our customers to feel the spatial sound experience that Dolby offers. Customers can now enjoy the best African and foreign movie titles, TV shows, sports, and a variety of the very best of entertainment anytime, anywhere and on whatever device”, said Louis Manu.

He continued, “Additionally, we are even more excited with the partnership agreement with telecoms giant, MTN Zambia. This provides us the opportunity to leverage on their recently deployed 5G high-speed internet connectivity to ensure the experience of subscribers is more seamless and exciting”.

“I am delighted to see the successful partnership between Wi-flix and MTN Zambia, providing our customers access to a variety of premium content. We are taking a step towards achieving our Ambition 2025 of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress, harnessing the power of our leading brand, its footprint, connectivity infrastructure and technology platforms. With Dolby Atmos and updated catalogs, coupled with our 5G high-speed internet connectivity, customers now have access to an unbeatable entertainment experience,” said Richard Acheampong, Chief Consumer Officer of MTN Zambia

Also commenting on the launch, Bright Yeboah, Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer on his part said, “Our presence in Zambia is instrumental in our mission to democratize content and ensure affordable premium entertainment is accessible to everyone on the continent and those in the diaspora. This also presents an opportunity for film producers, directors and aggregators in Zambia and elsewhere with quality content to monetize their works on our streaming platform.

He concluded, “We are excited to expand our footprint which has seen tremendous growth in such a short amount of time with the addition of more content to our catalog for our audiences and meet the growing demand for premium content, establishing Wi-flix as the home of the best of entertainment anywhere, at any time and on any device”.