Airtel Africa deal with Starlink to benefit Indian and African markets: GlobalData

The deal could aid both firms and businesses, pending approval in India and five African markets.

Airtel Africa has teamed up with low-earth orbit (LEO) operator Starlink, a deal expected to benefit both telco expansion and underserved customers in India and Africa.

Parent company Bharti Airtel facilitated the deal after making its own agreement with Starlink in India back in March.

The partnership between Airtel and Starlink will benefit both companies as well as enterprise customers and businesses, pending regulatory approval in India and five African markets within Airtel Africa’s footprint markets where Starlink is not yet licensed, according to GlobalData.

Moreover, Airtel Africa and Starlink's partnership has the potential to increase digitalisation in rural and semi-rural regions in the 14 countries where Airtel Africa operates, especially for micro, small, and medium businesses (MSMEs).

In India, the Confederation of Indian Industry states that of 63 million MSMEs in the country, over 51% are based in rural areas.

Fixed broadband penetration of household units in India stood at just 9% as of end-2024, according to GlobalData.