MTN Zambia Completes Africa’s First Starlink Direct-to-Cell Test
MTN Zambia has partnered with Starlink to successfully complete Africa’s first field test of Direct to Cell satellite connectivity, marking a significant step towards expanding mobile coverage to some of the country’s most remote areas.
The milestone makes MTN Zambia the first operator on the continent to conduct a successful trial of the technology, which included transmitting the country’s first data session and fintech transaction using MTN Zambia’s spectrum and Starlink’s satellite constellation. Commercial rollout is expected in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval.
The service will allow customers to access voice, data and video services in locations where terrestrial mobile networks are currently unavailable.
Supported applications are expected to include WhatsApp voice and video calls, as well as access to the MoMo App, MyMTN App, navigation services and weather applications, with additional services to be introduced over time.
According to the companies, Starlink’s Direct to Cell technology works with existing LTE and 4G-compatible mobile devices, provided there is a clear view of the sky.
The satellites effectively function as mobile towers in space, using advanced phased-array antennas and laser connections across the Starlink network to integrate with terrestrial mobile networks in a manner similar to international roaming.
The development is expected to significantly extend connectivity across Zambia, particularly in rural communities, national parks and areas surrounded by water bodies and rivers where conventional network infrastructure has been difficult to deploy.
MTN Zambia acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Technology and Science and the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) for their regulatory guidance during the testing process.
The partnership represents a major step towards bridging Zambia’s digital divide by combining satellite technology with existing mobile networks to deliver connectivity to previously underserved regions.
