Airtel Kenya is awaiting regulatory approval to roll out a satellite-to-phone mobile service that would allow customers to remain connected in areas with limited or no terrestrial network coverage.
The proposed Direct-to-Cell (DTC) service, currently awaiting clearance from the Communications Authority of Kenya, will enable compatible smartphones to connect directly to SpaceX satellites whenever users move beyond the reach of Airtel’s mobile towers.
According to the telecommunications firm, customers will not incur any additional charges for accessing the satellite-powered service.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe said the company has already completed a successful pilot and is ready to launch the service once it receives regulatory approval.
“We’ve already carried out a very successful pilot. As soon as we get approval from the regulator, we will be able to offer this product to Kenyans,” Tobe said.
The technology is expected to significantly improve connectivity in remote and underserved regions where deploying conventional mobile towers is either impractical or prohibitively expensive.
Airtel says customers travelling through border areas, remote counties and locations with weak or no network coverage will be able to continue making calls, browsing the internet and using messaging applications without replacing their handsets or purchasing specialised satellite equipment.
Initially, the service will support smartphones compatible with 4G and 5G networks.
Once users leave Airtel’s terrestrial coverage, their devices will automatically switch to the SpaceX satellite network while continuing to display the Airtel network on-screen.
“The moment you leave the traditional Airtel network, you will be connected through the SpaceX satellite network while still seeing Airtel on your phone,” Tobe explained.
The planned rollout forms part of Airtel’s broader strategy to strengthen network coverage across the country. In addition to expanding its mobile infrastructure, the operator is investing in fibre connectivity and improving indoor network performance in urban areas where high-rise buildings often interfere with signal quality.
The company is also constructing a major data centre at Tatu City, which it says will provide secure data storage and cloud services for businesses while reinforcing Kenya’s ambition of becoming a regional technology hub.
If approved, Airtel would become the first mobile network operator in Kenya to offer direct satellite-to-phone connectivity, potentially improving access to telecommunications services in underserved areas while intensifying competition in the sector.
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Separately, Airtel Money has introduced Bizna Wallet, a digital wallet designed specifically for small businesses as it seeks to expand its footprint in Kenya’s mobile money market.
The product targets informal traders, kiosk owners, boda boda riders, matatu operators and other micro-enterprises, enabling them to separate business transactions from personal finances.
Bizna Wallet directly competes with Safaricom’s Pochi la Biashara, allowing merchants to receive payments through a dedicated business account instead of a personal mobile money wallet.
The launch comes as mobile payments continue to gain traction among small businesses. According to the Mastercard SME Confidence Index, 95 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises now accept mobile payments, increasing demand for tools that simplify cash flow management, transaction tracking and record keeping.
Airtel Money says the wallet allows traders to keep business income separate from personal funds, access mini statements, receive payments from customers across different mobile money networks and minimise the risk of unauthorised transaction reversals.
