Kenyans will gain direct satellite connectivity on standard mobile phones under a new partnership between Airtel Africa and SpaceX’s Starlink, aiming to eliminate coverage dead zones in remote areas starting next year. Airtel Africa announced Tuesday that it has teamed up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology across its 14 markets,…
Airtel Africa announced a partnership Tuesday with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology to all 14 of its markets across Africa. The service is set to launch in 2026, initially providing text messaging and data for select applications to customers in areas without traditional cellular coverage, the company said in a statement. Airtel Africa…
Elon Musk’s Starlink gained 2,045 subscribers in Kenya during the July-September quarter, lifting its total to a record 19,470 and ending a nine-month slump triggered by network capacity problems, official data showed Monday. The rebound allowed Starlink to surpass its previous high of 19,146 customers reached in December 2024, according to the latest report from…
Kenya’s active 5G subscribers surged nearly 20% in the three months to September, reaching 1.5 million, as the country’s two main mobile operators stepped up network rollouts and marketing in urban centres, official data showed on Monday. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) said the number of users with 5G-capable devices consistently connected to the…
Kenya added 3.3 million active social media accounts between February and October 2025, a 21.9% surge that marks a strong recovery from last year’s slowdown and underscores TikTok’s dominance among the country’s young, mobile-first population. The rebound pushed the total number of active social media identities to 18.4 million by October, equivalent to 31.8% of…
Tech giant Meta has revealed that Tanzanian authorities threatened to block Facebook and Instagram nationwide if the company refused to delete posts and accounts critical of the government during the recent election period. Transparency report details pressure from TCRA The disclosure appears in Meta’s latest transparency report released this week. It shows how the Tanzanian…
A United States advocacy group has filed a new lawsuit against technology giant Apple, claiming the company continues to source minerals linked to child labour, forced labour and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda despite repeated denials. International Rights Advocates, a Washington-based nonprofit organisation, filed the 59-page complaint on Tuesday…
The United Arab Emirates has pledged $1 billion to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and services across Africa, a major step aimed at helping the continent tackle key development challenges in education, healthcare and climate adaptation. Announcement at historic G20 summit Minister of State Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri announced the commitment on 22 November 2025…
Kenya’s leading telecom operator Safaricom is set to expand high-speed internet to remote areas through a new partnership between its parent company Vodacom and Elon Musk-owned Starlink. The deal, announced on 12 November at the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, will see Vodacom use Starlink satellites to strengthen mobile network coverage across Africa, with…
