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Vodacom Partners with Elon Musk’s Starlink to Expand High-Speed Internet Across Africa

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Vodacom Group (VODJ.J), South Africa’s largest mobile network operator, has signed a landmark partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to businesses across Africa, the company announced on Wednesday.

The deal aims to bridge one of the continent’s toughest connectivity challenges — extending reliable internet coverage to remote and rural regions where traditional mobile infrastructure remains costly due to sparse populations and difficult terrain.

Vodacom, which serves more than 223 million customers and is majority-owned by Britain’s Vodafone (VOD.L), said it will integrate Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology into its network to enhance data relay capacity. The agreement also allows Vodacom to resell Starlink’s equipment and services directly to African customers.

“We continue dealing with multiple satellite providers, including Starlink, where Starlink has been licensed, as well as AST SpaceMobile and Amazon Kuiper,” CEO Shameel Joosub told Reuters following the company’s interim results on Monday.

The move underscores a growing trend among African telecom operators to partner with next-generation satellite companies. Rival MTN Group (MTNJ.J) is also exploring similar deals, while Vodafone has already teamed up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.O) to strengthen its global connectivity footprint.

By leveraging Starlink’s network of thousands of orbiting satellites, Vodacom aims to deliver faster and more reliable broadband to underserved areas — a critical step in Africa’s digital transformation.

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile to Build Europe-Led Satellite Constellation for Secure Connectivity

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Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile announced plans on Friday to develop a Europe-led satellite constellation designed to provide direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity for both commercial and government applications.

The joint venture will establish its European operational headquarters in Germany, with potential sites near Munich or Hannover under consideration. The new system will serve as a “sovereign satellite solution”, providing secure communications to European mobile network operators, public agencies, and emergency services.

According to the companies, the constellation will feature a “command switch” to ensure European oversight, with built-in encryption and control systems for secure communication and satellite management.

The initiative aims to enhance broadband access and improve disaster relief capabilities across the continent, particularly in underserved regions. Industry analysts estimate the satellite-to-phone connectivity market could surpass $10 billion by 2033, reflecting growing demand for broadband in remote areas.

The announcement follows Elon Musk’s Starlink striking a deal with Veon on Thursday to deliver direct-to-cell connectivity to up to 150 million users across its markets. SpaceX also expanded its U.S. spectrum holdings, signaling intensified competition in the satellite communications sector.

AST SpaceMobile, which currently operates six satellites and plans to expand to 60 by 2026, is positioning itself as Europe’s alternative to U.S.-based Starlink. Vodafone, a major investor in AST, said that operators in 21 EU member states have expressed interest in joining the project, which is slated for commercial launch in 2026.

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said the initiative will provide Europe with secure, sovereign satellite communications that complement terrestrial networks, strengthening the continent’s digital autonomy.

Turkcell, Turk Telekom, and Vodafone secure key blocks in Turkey’s $2.95 billion 5G auction

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Turkey’s highly anticipated 5G spectrum tender concluded on Thursday with a total of $2.95 billion in winning bids, as the nation’s three main telecom operators — Turkcell, Turk Telekom, and Vodafone — secured vital frequencies across the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.

Turkcell emerged as the biggest spender, placing the top bid of $429 million for the A1 package in the 700 MHz band and acquiring four additional blocks in the 3.5 GHz range, bringing its total to $1.22 billion.

Turk Telekom won the A3 package for $425 million and two blocks in the 3.5 GHz spectrum, with total bids of $1.1 billion. Vodafone secured the A2 package for $426 million and one 3.5 GHz block, spending $627 million overall.

The rollout of 5G services will begin in April 2026, starting in major urban centers before expanding nationwide. The tender not only allocated new frequencies but also extended the rights for existing 2G, 3G, and 4.5G networks until 2042.

The auction, overseen by Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, required a minimum bid of $2.13 billion (excluding VAT) across all packages. Analysts expect telecom firms to launch multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investments to upgrade their networks.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the first 5G signal will be launched on April 1, beginning in densely populated cities and reaching nationwide coverage in about a year.

The last major mobile frequency auction in 2015 raised €4 billion ($4.66 billion) for 4.5G services.