Uganda’s communications regulator has granted Starlink a provisional licence, marking a significant step in the satellite operator’s push into East Africa and reflecting a broader shift in how African regulators are approaching low-earth orbit (LEO) broadband connectivity.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued the provisional licence to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, while Airtel Uganda has simultaneously begun testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) LEO satellite service.
The direct-to-cell technology allows standard mobile handsets to connect directly to satellites without specialised equipment — a development that could significantly expand connectivity in areas where terrestrial network infrastructure is limited or absent.
Airtel Uganda’s testing of the D2C service signals growing interest from established telecoms operators in partnering with LEO satellite providers to extend their coverage footprints, particularly in rural and underserved communities across the continent.
Uganda joins a growing list of African markets where Starlink has sought or secured regulatory approval. The provisional licence represents the first formal regulatory greenlight for Starlink in the country, though the UCC has not yet disclosed the timeline for a full licence or the specific conditions attached to the provisional approval.
The development comes as African governments and regulators increasingly engage with LEO satellite operators, recognising the technology’s potential to bridge persistent connectivity gaps that fibre and mobile networks have struggled to close — especially in landlocked and rural regions.
For Uganda, where internet penetration remains a challenge outside major urban centres, a licensed Starlink operation could accelerate access to high-speed broadband for businesses, schools, and households that have long relied on slower or less reliable connections.
The combination of a regulatory licence and an active D2C trial with a major mobile operator like Airtel suggests Uganda could become an early testing ground for hybrid satellite-cellular connectivity models on the continent.