Airtel Uganda and Starlink have launched a satellite-to-mobile service aimed at extending connectivity to Ugandans living and travelling in areas beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial mobile networks.
The service, launched at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala, makes Airtel Uganda the first telecom operator in the country to introduce satellite-to-mobile connectivity, according to the company.
The service will initially enable customers with compatible smartphones to send messages when they move outside terrestrial network coverage, with other services expected to be introduced as the technology develops.
Airtel Uganda Managing Director Soumendra Sahu said the service is intended to address geographical gaps in mobile coverage, particularly in areas where installing conventional infrastructure is difficult because of terrain, distance and limited road access.
Airtel currently operates 3,700 4G sites, 584 5G sites and has more than 12,573 kilometres of fibre across Uganda.
However, Sahu said investment in terrestrial infrastructure alone cannot eliminate all coverage gaps.
“Normally, when there is a road, there is a network. But right now, the solution we are bringing goes beyond the road. When the road ends, our responsibility still continues,” Sahu said.
He explained that conventional mobile networks require physical infrastructure, including towers, electricity and fuel, all of which can be difficult to deploy and maintain in remote locations.
“It’s not just when there is a road that we can provide a network. That is the nature of a terrestrial network because you need to bring the tower, grid and diesel to fill the generator, which requires a road. But right now, what we are saying with these innovations is that it goes beyond the road,” he said.
Airtel Public Relations Manager David Birungi said the satellite-to-mobile service is designed to complement, rather than replace, the company’s existing terrestrial network.
“This service extends coverage beyond the boundaries of the terrestrial network. Where the terrestrial network stops, or where your mobile phone reads ‘no service’ or ‘emergency calls only’, that is when the satellite-to-mobile service kicks in,” Birungi said.
He said customers who still have a terrestrial signal, even if weak, may not automatically connect to the satellite network because the satellite service is intended for areas where conventional network coverage is unavailable.
At launch, the service will focus on messaging and will not support bandwidth-intensive services such as internet calls.
Birungi said customers will need a compatible smartphone, data worth at least Shs2,000 and activated roaming to access the satellite-to-mobile service when outside terrestrial network coverage.
The service is expected to be particularly useful in remote areas such as national parks, mountainous regions, islands and parts of Uganda’s lakes where establishing conventional mobile infrastructure can be challenging.
Sahu said the satellite-to-mobile launch is the latest in a series of technology investments by Airtel Uganda.
He said Airtel Uganda currently has about 20 million customers and has continued to invest in infrastructure to expand digital connectivity across the country.
The company has also expanded its 5G network from an initial 25 sites to 584 sites, covering more than 30 towns, according to Sahu.
Despite the expansion, he said connectivity gaps remain, particularly in parts of northern Uganda, some areas around the lakes and sections of western Uganda.
Sahu said the satellite service is intended to help address those gaps while supporting the government’s objective of expanding geographical coverage.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo welcomed the partnership, saying satellite technology could provide an additional tool for extending communication services to underserved communities.
Thembo said UCC had licensed Starlink to provide satellite communication services in Uganda, with the licence allowing infrastructure-sharing arrangements with other licensed operators.
“By partnering with Starlink, Airtel Uganda is leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen connectivity and help bridge coverage gaps across the country,” Thembo said.
He said Uganda’s mobile operators have obligations to expand coverage across at least 90% of the country’s geographical area, including difficult terrain such as islands, mountains and forests.
According to Thembo, the coverage obligations are technology-neutral, meaning operators can use different technologies to achieve the broader objective of ensuring Ugandans have access to communication services.
“If satellite technology can help accelerate the achievement of this objective, then it is a welcome addition to the connectivity tools available to operators,” he said.
Thembo also disclosed that the partnership had undergone a regulatory process before the launch.
He said Airtel had initially approached UCC about the service in 2025, but the launch could not proceed because Starlink had not yet been licensed to operate in Uganda.
“We had a problem because Starlink had not been licensed. There was no way an unlicensed operator would carry a licensed operator,” Thembo said.
He said UCC subsequently worked with the parties to address regulatory issues and allowed the service to proceed on a pilot basis.
Thembo said the regulator would closely monitor the new service, particularly its quality, reliability, consumer protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.
“We are not roadblocks to innovation. When we tick the boxes for lawful interception, consumer protection, non-interference and competition, we give you a go-ahead,” he said.
He added that Airtel would be required to submit regular reports to UCC as the regulator assesses the performance of the new technology.Minister for ICT Justine Kasule Lumumba welcomed the launch, describing it as an example of how emerging technologies can help Uganda address longstanding connectivity challenges.
She said the government’s objective is to transform Uganda into a digitally enabled society that is innovative, productive and competitive.
“The transformative power of ICTs creates opportunities for growth beyond the existing networks of roads, railways, waterways and even traditional terrestrial telecom networks,” Lumumba said.
She said the Airtel-Starlink service could help address connectivity challenges in hard-to-reach locations, including Uganda’s islands, mountains and tourism destinations.
“This service will, among others, unlock the productivity of our tourism industry, whose challenges with connectivity have long been documented by all stakeholders,” she said.
Lumumba added that people living and working in remote parts of the country also deserve access to communication services.
“Ugandans who live in hard-to-reach areas on our beautiful lakes and mountains also deserve services like the rest of us. They will now be able to communicate,” she said.
She said the technology could also contribute to security and other government functions that depend on reliable communication in remote areas.
The minister commended UCC for creating room for regulators, technology companies and service providers to learn and adapt as new technologies emerge.
She said the government would continue supporting private-sector innovation while ensuring that operators remain compliant with Uganda’s laws and regulations.
The launch marks a shift in how mobile operators can approach coverage in areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult or expensive to deploy.
Rather than replacing Airtel’s existing network, the satellite-to-mobile service will operate as an additional layer of connectivity, allowing compatible devices to communicate when users move beyond terrestrial coverage.
For Uganda, the technology could be particularly relevant in remote communities, tourism sites, islands, mountainous areas and other locations where geographical conditions have historically made conventional network expansion difficult.
Airtel and Starlink are expected to continue refining the service as they gather operational experience, with the initial focus on messaging and future expansion to additional services.
