THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled plans to deploy satellite-to-phone connectivity as part of a broader strategy to expand mobile network coverage to an estimated 23.3 million Nigerians who remain underserved or completely unconnected by conventional terrestrial networks.
The initiative, also known as direct-to-device (D2D) or direct-to-cell connectivity, allows ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites for voice calls, text messages and limited data services without relying on mobile base stations.
The NCC says the technology offers a practical solution to long-standing connectivity challenges in remote, rural and hard-to-reach areas.
In a consultation paper published on its website sighted by News Point Nigeria, the Commission said the move is aimed at closing persistent service gaps identified in its 2024 cluster gap study, which revealed 87 coverage clusters across the country where mobile services remain limited or nonexistent.
According to the regulator, advances in satellite and non-terrestrial network technologies now make it possible to complement existing mobile infrastructure, especially in locations where building and maintaining base stations is either technically difficult or economically unviable.
“NCC is exploring a mix of approaches tailored to specific locations and operational conditions to achieve national connectivity objectives,” the consultation paper stated.
The Commission added that it is seeking evidence-based input from stakeholders to guide decisions on regulatory frameworks, spectrum allocation, network deployment strategies and consumer protection measures for satellite D2D services in Nigeria.
The consultation, which opened on January 12, 2026, is expected to shape policies on suitable technologies, performance benchmarks and operational requirements to ensure that satellite connectivity supports Nigeria’s universal access goals without undermining competition or efficient spectrum use.
The initiative aligns with the NCC’s 2025–2030 Spectrum Roadmap, which identifies non-terrestrial networks as a critical complement to traditional mobile infrastructure. Industry developments have further reinforced this direction, particularly Airtel Africa’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, which aims to deliver direct-to-cell satellite services in Nigeria and 13 other African markets.
In December 2025, Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to roll out Starlink-powered direct-to-device services, beginning in 2026 with texting and limited data services delivered via more than 650 low-Earth orbit satellites.
The partnership makes Airtel the first African telecom operator to offer Starlink D2D services, targeting underserved regions and potentially benefiting its 59 million Nigerian subscribers.
Nigeria’s connectivity challenge remains stark. Out of an estimated 233 million population, nearly 105 million people live in rural areas with little or no access to mobile and internet services. While national broadband penetration hovers around 50 per cent, about 23 million Nigerians are completely unconnected, and roughly 61 per cent of rural residents remain offline.
Industry experts attribute the gap to high deployment costs, scattered rural settlements, lack of electricity, limited fibre infrastructure, difficult terrain and growing insecurity in some regions.
These factors make traditional base stations expensive, with investment returns often taking five to ten years, discouraging operators from expanding beyond urban centres such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Although government interventions like the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and innovative projects such as MTN and Huawei’s RuralCow, which uses solar-powered mini base stations to shorten investment payback periods, have improved access in some communities, coverage remains limited.
The NCC believes satellite direct-to-device services could offer a cost-effective alternative for connecting rural blackspots, particularly where terrestrial rollout is slow or commercially unattractive.
Globally, satellite D2D connectivity is gaining momentum as regulators and operators explore ways to integrate satellite services with existing mobile networks, especially in regions constrained by geography, cost and security challenges.