- The collaboration will integrate Starlink satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s mobile network, improving performance in remote areas.
- Vodacom will sell Starlink equipment and services to businesses, supporting its strategy to grow its customer base to 260 million by 2030.
What happened: Vodacom teams up with Starlink to boost African broadband coverage
Vodacom Group, South Africa’s biggest telecom operator, has announced a partnership with SpaceX-owned Starlink to expand broadband coverage across the African continent. The deal will see Starlink’s satellite backhaul integrated into Vodacom’s mobile network, enabling faster rollout of network coverage and improved performance, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
The collaboration also allows Vodacom to sell Starlink equipment and services directly to enterprise and small business customers, extending high-speed internet access to organisations that previously struggled with connectivity. According to SpaceX vice president Chad Gibbs, Starlink already serves people, businesses, and organisations in 25 African countries, and the partnership with Vodacom aims to bring reliable, high-speed connectivity to even more customers.
The project aligns with Vodacom’s broader 2030 strategy, which targets growing its customer base to 260 million and expanding its financial services offerings. Rolling out the service will depend on local licensing approvals, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub noted, highlighting ongoing regulatory considerations across different African markets.
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Why it’s important
The partnership reflects the growing trend of satellite-enabled broadband addressing digital divides in emerging markets. By leveraging Starlink’s constellation of low-earth orbit satellites, Vodacom can significantly improve network resilience and capacity in rural regions, where traditional fibre or mobile infrastructure is costly or impractical.
Additionally, the collaboration could influence policy discussions in South Africa, where authorities are exploring amendments to industry rules to allow foreign tech firms to operate locally using equity-equivalent programmes instead of strict ownership requirements. Such regulatory flexibility may open further opportunities for satellite-based connectivity initiatives in Africa.
For businesses and small enterprises, access to Starlink-enabled services through Vodacom represents a critical step toward digital inclusion, enabling improved communication, e-commerce, and adoption of cloud-based solutions. The partnership positions Vodacom and Starlink at the forefront of Africa’s next phase of broadband expansion.
