KINSHASA, Aug. 15 -- PEOPLE and organisations operating in remote areas of Africa are set to benefit from expanded access to essential communication services following the commercial launch of a satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Airtel Africa, in partnership with Starlink, launched the service on August 14, 2026, making the DRC the first country in Africa where Starlink Mobile has moved to commercial deployment.

The service enables Airtel customers with compatible smartphones to access connectivity in areas beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial networks, provided they have a clear view of the sky.

Starlink Mobile supports light-data applications, including WhatsApp messaging and SMS, with...