MTN Zambia said it has completed field testing of satellite-to-mobile connectivity using Starlink Direct-to-Cell technology, a milestone the operator described as the first such test by a mobile network in Africa.
The trial involved transmitting a data session and a fintech transaction using MTN Zambia’s licensed spectrum combined with Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, the company said in a statement.
The successful tests pave the way for a potential commercial launch in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval.
Direct-to-Cell technology allows standard LTE/4G smartphones to connect directly to satellites when outside terrestrial mobile coverage, enabling services such as voice and video calls, messaging and access to mobile applications including WhatsApp and MTN’s mobile money platform MTN MoMo.
The satellites act as cellphone towers in space using phased-array antennas and connect across the Starlink network through laser links, enabling integration with mobile networks in a manner similar to international roaming.
MTN Zambia said the technology could significantly extend coverage to remote regions including rural communities, national parks and areas surrounded by rivers and water bodies where building terrestrial infrastructure is difficult.
The development comes as satellite-to-mobile connectivity gains traction across Africa. In December, Airtel Africa announced a partnership with Starlink to introduce the same Direct-to-Cell satellite technology across its 14 African markets, targeting areas without traditional cellular coverage.
The Airtel rollout, expected to begin in 2026, aims to allow compatible smartphones to send messages and access data services directly via Starlink satellites without additional hardware.
Telecom operators globally are increasingly partnering with satellite providers as they seek to close connectivity gaps in rural and underserved regions where deploying conventional cell towers is expensive or impractical.