Starlink Approved for Provisional Operations in Uganda; Airtel Trials Direct-to-Cell Network
Uganda’s communications regulator has given Starlink a provisional license to operate in the country, as reported by Techpoint. The license was granted to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, but Airtel Uganda had previously started testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) LEO satellite service.
Starlink operating in Uganda
Starlink could improve connectivity in locations where terrestrial network infrastructure is limited, as the direct-to-call l technology allows standard mobile handsets to connect directly to satellites without specialized equipment.
Airtel Uganda’s testing of the D2C service underscores the growing interest among established telecom operators in collaborating with LEO satellite providers to expand network coverage, especially in rural and underserved areas across the continent.
The provisional license marks the first formal regulatory green light for Starlink in the country. Uganda will join the list of African countries allowing Starlink, including Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Starlink allegedly being pushed in African countries
When the US government arrived in The Gambia in 2025, it framed Starlink’s entry as part of the broader Digital Transformation for Africa (DTA) initiative, a White House-led effort to improve internet access across Africa.
However, critics, including Lamin Jabbi of Gambia’s communications ministry, allege that they were being pressured to fast-track Starlink’s approval, according to Pro Publica.
Senior State Department officials in both Washington and Gambia have coordinated with Starlink executives to intimidate at least seven Gambian government ministers to assist Musk, according to records and interviews. Starlink is currently not operating in The Gambia.
Image: Mariia Shalabaieva
