Airtel Kenya is planning to introduce a new mobile service that could allow customers to stay connected even in areas with little or no network coverage, using satellites instead of mobile towers.
The service, known as Direct-to-Cell (DTC), is awaiting approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya before it can be launched commercially.
If approved, Airtel says customers with compatible smartphones will automatically switch from its normal mobile network to SpaceX satellites whenever they move into areas where there are no Airtel towers.
The company says customers will not pay extra to use the satellite service.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director DJibril Tobe said the company has already completed a successful pilot and is now waiting for the regulator to give it the green light.
"We've already carried out a very successful pilot. As soon as we get approval from the regulator, we will be able to offer this product to Kenyans," he said.
The technology is expected to improve mobile coverage in remote parts of the country where building traditional mobile towers is difficult or too expensive.
Airtel says customers travelling through border regions, remote counties and other areas with poor network coverage will be able to continue making calls, accessing the internet and using messaging apps without changing their phones or buying special satellite equipment.
According to the company, the service will initially work on smartphones that support 4G and 5G networks.
When users leave an area covered by Airtel's towers, their phones will automatically connect to SpaceX satellites while still showing the Airtel network.
"The moment you leave the traditional Airtel network, you will be connected through the SpaceX satellite network while still seeing Airtel on your phone," Tobe said.
The planned launch is part of Airtel's wider strategy to improve network coverage across Kenya. Besides expanding its mobile network, the company says it is investing in fibre internet and improving indoor coverage in cities where tall buildings can weaken mobile signals.
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Airtel is also investing in a large data centre at Tatu City, which it says will support businesses that need secure data storage and cloud services while strengthening Kenya's position as a regional technology hub.
If the Communications Authority approves the satellite service, Airtel would become the first mobile operator in Kenya to offer direct satellite-to-phone connectivity.
The move could help improve access to mobile services in underserved parts of the country and increase competition in Kenya's telecommunications market.
The telco also launched a dedicated digital wallet for small businesses, stepping up competition in Kenya's mobile money market by targeting micro-enterprises that increasingly need tools to separate business and personal finances.
The new Bizna Wallet is aimed at informal traders, kiosk owners, boda boda riders, matatu operators and other small businesses.
The new innovation rivals Safaricom's Pochi la Biashara by allowing merchants to receive payments through a dedicated business account rather than a personal mobile money wallet.
The move comes as digital payments become more common among Kenya's small businesses.
According to the Mastercard SME Confidence Index, 95 per cent of SMEs now accept mobile payments, creating demand for services that help businesses manage cash flow, keep transaction records and track daily sales.
Airtel Money said the wallet enables traders to separate business income from personal funds, view mini statements, receive payments from customers across different mobile money networks and reduce the risk of business payments being reversed without authorisation.
