• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

MTN Zambia said it has completed Africa's first field test of Starlink's Direct-to-Cell technology, sending both a data session and a mobile money transaction through satellites, in a step that could extend network coverage to remote parts of the country. The telecom operator said the trial used MTN's spectrum alongside Starlink's satellite constellation, allowing a mobile device to connect directly to space-based infrastructure rather than a traditional ground tower. The companies said the test successfully carried the country's first fintech transaction and data connection through the system, marking a milestone for satellite-to-phone connectivity in Africa. The service, once cleared by regulators, could allow customers to make voice and video calls, access messaging apps such as WhatsApp, and use financial and navigation services in areas where terrestrial networks are not available. Read also: Netflix acquires Ben Affleck's AI filmmaking startup InterPositive Starlink's Direct-to-Cell satellites function like cellphone towers in orbit, using phased-array antennas to link directly with LTE-compatible smartphones. The satellites relay signals through Starlink's global network, connecting them to telecom operators' existing systems in a way similar to roaming arrangements. MTN Zambia said the technology would help extend coverage to sparsely populated regions including national parks, rural settlements and communities separated by rivers and water bodies where building ground infrastructure is difficult. The companies plan to move toward commercial deployment in the coming weeks, subject to approval from Zambia's communications regulator. Read also: Starlink's N159,000 lifeline hits Nigeria's starved cities MTN Zambia thanked the Ministry of Technology and Science and the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) for supporting the testing process. Satellite-to-mobile technology is being closely watched by telecom operators as a potential solution to persistent coverage gaps across Africa, where large rural areas remain beyond the reach of conventional cellular towers. Source: https://businessday.ng/news/article/mtn-zambia-completes-africas-first-starlink-direct-to-cell-test/