Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest mobile operators are in discussions with Elon Musk’s Starlink to expand connectivity in remote parts of the country, according to reporting from Semafor.
Africell DRC CEO Kory Webster said the company is in “active conversation” with Starlink over an operational partnership. A Vodacom executive, who requested anonymity, confirmed the market leader is also exploring satellite cooperation with Starlink in the country, calling the service a “complementary” tool to “extend coverage in the most hard-to-reach areas.”
The talks come as the Congolese government turns to satellite solutions to bridge wide coverage gaps amid slow progress on national fiber-optic deployment. Kinshasa granted Starlink an operating license in May 2025, reversing an earlier ban, and is simultaneously backing a $400 million national satellite initiative. Only about 30% of Congolese citizens used the internet in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union.
Airtel announced a group-level agreement with SpaceX in May to integrate Starlink across its African footprint. Alongside satellite options, operators are expanding rural coverage through a Vodacom–Orange joint venture that aims to build and operate solar-powered towers in underserved regions.Source: Semafor
