Satellite Networks

LOT Polish Airlines, the flag carrier of Poland, says it has begun rolling out internet access on its long-haul fleet – with help from global communications company Viasat.

MTN Zambia announced on Friday it has formed a strategic partnership with LEO satellite operator Starlink to offer its Direct to Cell (D2C) service in the country after a successful field test of the technology.

Axian Telecom, the parent company of pan-African telecom group Yas, says it is partnering with AST SpaceMobile to deliver direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services across Yas’ markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Global satellite operator SES announced on Tuesday it is partnering with IoT technology provider Advannotech and other service providers to enable data-driven farming in South Africa.

Telecommunications operator Orange has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, related to collaboration on direct-to-device (D2D) technology in relevant Orange markets.

Automotive technology company HARMAN has announced at MWC26 a collaboration with satellite communications company Viasat to introduce in-cabin voice calling over satellite connectivity.

PLDT's mobile unit Smart Communications said on Monday it has completed another round of field tests with LEO satellite operator Lynk Global for its direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communication service in northern Ilocos Norte towns facing the West Philippine Sea.

Vodafone and Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network, have signed an agreement to connect many more 4G and 5G mobile sites in remote areas to improve coverage for customers with limited connectivity across Africa and Europe.

Timor Leste IT firm Vorakai Lda said on Friday it has partnered with LEO satellite operator Starlink to deploy satellite broadband connectivity to schools, health services and communities in remote parts of the country.

A demonstration of satellite-enabled voice calls over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial satellite network for connected vehicles, is take place at Mobile World Congress 2026 – with the help of a very impressive partnership.

Satellite solutions provider Skynopy has secured financing for its SkyConnect Kenya project.

Satellite operator SES and network builder Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) have announced a milestone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expanding mobile connectivity to 27% of the country’s population and bringing coverage to an additional 1.3 million people.

SpaceX has secured approval to launch its Starlink satellite broadband service in Vietnam, after receiving licences from the government to provide both fixed and mobile satellite services.

Amazon’s satellite connectivity arm Leo has launched its largest payload to date, expanding its low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation to 200 satellites as it ramps up competition with SpaceX’s Starlink.

The growing focus on satellite communications in Africa has been underlined by a recent launch announcement from Algeria and satellite purchase news from Nigeria.

Chad’s Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) announced on Thursday it has signed an MoU with Azerbaijan's state space agency Azercosmos to strengthen bilateral cooperation in satellite services.

Saudi Arabia-based Arabsat says it has selected French firm ACTIA Aerospace to design, supply and deploy a new generation ofQ/V-Band RF gateway systems that will form a critical part of the ground segment for its upcoming ARABSAT-7A software-defined satellite.

Oman has launched a national programme to develop and assemble a CubeSat satellite, marking what is described as a step towards building domestic capabilities in satellite manufacturing and space technologies.

Telecom Fiji announced on Monday it will deploy Starlink-powered managed Wi-Fi solutions in Namosi and Lomaiviti as part of a new universal service obligation (USO) contract signed with the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF).

Orange Côte d'Ivoire has launched “Orange Sat”, a new satellite broadband internet service in partnership with Eutelsat that promises to bring data connectivity to rural “white zones” in the country unserved by 4G and fibre.

African space strategies are again in the news after last week’s reports of the latest satellite launch in Algeria and the announcement of plans for the launch of Senegal’s second satellite some time this year.

Globe Telecom announced on Friday it has signed an MOU to partner with LEO satellite operator Starlink to resell its Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite service in the Philippines, making it the first operator in the country (and in Southeast Asia) to do so.

Veon-owned Ukrainian telco Kyivstar said on Thursday it has registered over 3 million users for Starlink’s Direct to Cell (D2C) LEO satellite service  since it commercially launched the service less than two months ago.

Indian state-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and global satellite company Viasat announced on Thursday they are teaming up to help modernise the Indian Navy’s satellite communications infrastructure.

PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications and direct-to-device (D2D) LEO satellite operator Lynk Global said on Wednesday they have successfully tested Lynk’s D2D network on the island of Catanduanes in the Philippines.

Nigeria has opened its satellite market to Amazon’s low Earth orbit offering, formerly known as Project Kuiper and now called Amazon LEO.

A launch of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on Sunday carrying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite and 15 other satellites for domestic and international customers ended in failure, with all satellites lost.

Luxembourg-based 5G NTN satellite operator OQ Technology has signed a LEO satellite partnership agreement with cloud-based hybrid connectivity provider Monogoto.

Satellite service provider Starlink has shut down access to its satellite internet service in Uganda after receiving instructions to do so from the country’s regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Eutelsat announced on Tuesday that it partnering with Airtel Gabon to provide OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity to passenger trains in Gabon to support on-board Wi-Fi services.

SpaceX’s LEO satellite operator Starlink has shut off service in Papua New Guinea – at least for now – and has reportedly withdrawn from the market amid ongoing legal tangles that have delayed approval of its licence to operate there.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain has announced the launch of satellite direct-to-device (D2D) services in the country, although ‘launch’ may mean ‘authorisation’ in this case.