Airtel Nigeria on Thursday announced a partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, marking a technological shift that will integrate “Direct-to-Cell” satellite technology into the country’s mobile ecosystem.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh said the initiative would bridge the digital divide and expand connectivity to Nigeria’s most challenging terrains.
The partnership, set to go live in 2026, aims to serve the estimated 12 percent of Nigerians who remain outside the reach of traditional terrestrial mobile networks.
Unlike traditional bulky and costly satellite phones, the new Starlink “Direct-to-Cell” system uses a constellation of approximately 650 advanced satellites that act as “cell towers in space.”
“The world has moved forward. A decade ago, smartphone penetration was below 10 percent. Today, it is over 50 percent. As technology advances, it becomes more accessible and affordable. SpaceX’s innovations have brought satellite connectivity within reach for the average consumer,” Balsingh said.
The service is designed for zero-network zones, agricultural hubs, desert frontiers, and mountainous regions where building physical masts is logistically impossible. Customers moving from city centres to rural areas will seamlessly switch from terrestrial 4G/5G networks to satellite, without changing SIM cards or devices.
Balsingh noted that traders and farmworkers in remote areas will gain access to USSD and mobile money SmartCash services, which previously required travel to urban centres. The satellite link will also act as a critical backup, maintaining connectivity even when terrestrial fiber-optic cables are vandalized.
The CEO added that Airtel is simultaneously strengthening its ground-based infrastructure. Currently, 99 percent of its sites are 4G-enabled, effectively phasing out voice-only infrastructure in Nigeria.
“We no longer roll out voice-only sites. Every new site is a high-speed mobile broadband site,” Balsingh said.
He further highlighted the expansion of Airtel’s 5G network in urban centres, complemented by outdoor 5G routers that deliver fiber-like speeds to homes and businesses without physical cabling.
With over 700 new sites rolled out in the last six months and the 2026 satellite launch on the horizon, Airtel Nigeria is intensifying efforts to bridge the country’s digital divide.
