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Africa’s digital transformation depends on reliable connectivity. Yet large parts of the continent, especially rural and remote communities, remain beyond the reach of traditional telecommunications infrastructure.
Satellite technology is no longer a secondary option. It is becoming a central component in building a more inclusive and functional digital ecosystem across Africa.
The challenges facing terrestrial network expansion are well known. Fibre optic cables and cellular towers require significant investment, careful planning, and stable geography.
Many African regions lack all three. The population is often dispersed, terrain is difficult, and returns on investment are uncertain.
These limitations have delayed the continent’s efforts to close its connectivity gap. Satellite systems respond directly to these constraints, offering scalable coverage to locations that ground infrastructure cannot reach.
One of the most significant contributions of satellite technology to Africa’s telecommunications infrastructure is its role in cellular backhaul.
In areas where deploying fiber is economically prohibitive, satellite links provide the vital connection between cellular base stations and the core network.
This enables mobile operators to extend their reach, bringing essential voice and data services to previously unconnected or underserved communities.
Companies like Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) are actively using Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for backhaul, connecting thousands of mobile network base stations across sub-Saharan Africa and enabling 3G and 4G services in remote areas.
For some villages, this is the first time residents can make a mobile call without having to climb hills or walk kilometers to the nearest tower.
A more recent breakthrough, Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communication, is also transforming connectivity. This approach allows mobile devices to connect directly to satellites without relying on terrestrial infrastructure.
It removes the need for ground-based towers, backhaul links, or even local internet providers. The result is a new form of accessibility that is immediate, borderless, and especially relevant to underserved communities across Africa.
Already, MTN and Airtel have concluded plans to go beyond reliance fibre optic cable service for broadband deployment.
They are now focusing more on how they can deploy their services through satellites which they believe will reduce their capital expenses (CaPex).
In 2024, MTN subsidiary Bayobab signed a multi-year deal to integrate Eutelsat’s LEO satellites, a move to expand cellular backhaul and coverage in rural areas to meet rising demands from enterprise clients across Nigeria and other countries.
MTN in 2023, began relevant partnerships for low earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to connect the unconnected, extend mobile connectivity to more rural and remote areas and improve resilience.
LEO satellites typically orbit the Earth at altitudes of between 160 and 2 000 km, making for shorter orbital periods (of between 90 minutes and a few hours) which is good for applications that need rapid data communication or frequent re-visits of specific areas.
The lower altitude contributes to lower signal travel times, resulting in lower latency. This is crucial for real-time communication, video conferencing and online gaming.
According to the telecom giant, “Central to our approach are two distinct yet complementary LEO-based solutions.
The first employs direct-to-cellular technology to augment network access in traditionally under-served regions.
Importantly, this technology is device-agnostic, ensuring compatibility with existing mobile units and requiring no special modifications.
The second solution uses LEO satellites to provide critical fixed connectivity for enterprise customers and efficient backhaul connectivity for MTN cellular sites. This is particularly relevant in remote and rural locations, where it offers a more affordable and efficient alternative.
Airtel Nigeria, most recently, in December 2025, partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s Direct‑to‑Cell connectivity across Nigeria and its other 13 markets, giving its customers the ability to access satellite‑enabled mobile service in areas without terrestrial coverage.
The telecom operator already has a stake in the D2D space via its parent company Airtel Africa, which signed a deal with SpaceX last month to launch Starlink’s Direct to Cell (D2C) LEO satellite service across all of its 14 markets across the continent sometime this year.
Airtel Nigeria currently resells Starlink’s satellite broadband service under a separate earlier agreement between Airtel Africa and SpaceX in May 2025. For example, In Nigeria, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is working with China’s Galaxy Space to deploy D2D capability across the country. The goal is to eliminate mobile network blind spots entirely by the end of 2025.
According to Sulaiman Al Ali, CCO of Yahsat, “Direct-to-device is a major trend in the satellite industry. We have joined the Mobile Satellite Service Association to work with key players and optimize spectrum use. Yahsat’s strategy includes launching Skyphone and Sky SMS, allowing standard handsets to send SMS to satellites. Our Blue Star strategy envisions a full D2D constellation in the coming years. Skyphone, already well-received in Africa, provides connectivity even in remote or disconnected areas, ensuring users stay connected.”
The increasing deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, such as Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and SES’s O3b mPOWER, has fundamentally reshaped the telecommunications landscape in Africa.
Unlike geostationary (GEO) satellites, which orbit much higher, LEO satellites operate closer to Earth (500–2,000 km), offering significantly lower latency and higher bandwidth.
This translates into a more responsive internet experience, making satellite broadband a competitive alternative even in more densely populated areas. Starlink, for instance, has entered over twenty African countries, often through partnerships with mobile operators like Airtel Africa, to improve connectivity access.
Beyond direct internet access, satellites are pivotal in supporting various sectors that rely on robust telecommunications. In healthcare, satellite-enabled telemedicine services allow remote consultations and diagnoses, improving access to medical care in underserved regions.
In Northern Kenya, for instance, a nurse at a remote clinic can now connect with a cardiologist in Nairobi within minutes—avoiding days of travel and delay. It is hard to overstate the impact this has on rural health outcomes.
While the benefits of satellite connectivity are increasingly evident, challenges remain. High service costs, regulatory bottlenecks, and uneven access continue to slow progress in many regions.
To address this, policymakers, service providers, and regulators must work in coordination. That means creating supportive licensing frameworks, encouraging infrastructure-sharing models, and introducing targeted subsidies that make satellite solutions more affordable and scalable.
And the good news is that the telecommunications industry is not treating satellite innovation as a competing force. Rather, operators are embracing a complementary model. Satellite networks are not replacing terrestrial systems.
