A data session and a fintech transaction transmitted via satellite, no cell tower required. MTN Zambia has completed Africa’s first field test of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service.
South African telecommunications group MTN announced on 6 March 2026 that its Zambian subsidiary had successfully transmitted the first data session and fintech transaction in the country using MTN Zambia’s spectrum and Starlink’s satellite constellation. The milestone makes MTN Zambia the first operator on the continent to complete field testing of the service.
What Direct to Cell offers
Starlink Direct to Cell works with existing LTE-compatible devices wherever there is a clear view of the sky. The satellites function as cell towers in orbit, using phased array antennas and inter-satellite laser links to integrate with terrestrial mobile networks in a manner similar to a roaming partner.
Once commercially available, the service will support data, voice, and video through selected applications. MTN Zambia said the initial rollout will include WhatsApp voice and video calls, the MoMo fintech app, MyMTN, navigation, and weather applications, with more to follow.
Closing Zambia’s connectivity gaps
The partnership is aimed squarely at areas where terrestrial infrastructure does not reach. MTN Zambia highlighted that coverage would extend to game parks, rural communities, and regions surrounded by water bodies and rivers, where building traditional cell towers is impractical.
Commercial launch is expected in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval from the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA). MTN Zambia acknowledged the support of ZICTA and the Ministry of Technology and Science throughout the testing process.
Starlink’s expanding African footprint
The Zambian test adds to Starlink’s growing presence across Africa, where SpaceX’s satellite internet service has already launched in several markets. Direct to Cell, however, represents a different proposition: rather than requiring a dedicated Starlink dish, it connects standard mobile phones directly to orbiting satellites through existing operator spectrum.
For MTN, which operates across 19 markets in Africa and the Middle East, a successful deployment in Zambia could serve as a blueprint for satellite-assisted coverage in other countries where geography and economics make traditional network expansion difficult.
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