Axian Telecom, AST SpaceMobile launch Africa’s first direct-to-device satellite network

Pan-African telecom group Axian Telecom, operating under the Yas brand, has partnered with U.S. satellite company AST SpaceMobile to launch Africa’s first direct-to-device satellite mobile broadband network, a move aimed at expanding internet coverage to millions of underserved users across the continent.

The initiative, announced March 3, 2026, will use low-Earth-orbit (LEO) BlueBird satellites to connect standard smartphones directly to space-based broadband, enabling 4G LTE and 5G services without additional hardware or applications. It follows AST SpaceMobile’s commercial agreement with TELUS to deliver satellite-based texting, voice and data to remote regions of Canada, with service targeted for launch in late 2026.

Satellite-powered connectivity
The project targets remote and rural communities across Tanzania, Madagascar, the Comoros, Togo and Senegal, where connectivity gaps remain a major barrier to digital growth. This comes as the rise of direct-to-device satellite connectivity is becoming one of the most disruptive shifts in the telecom industry.

Axian Telecom, led by French-Malagasy entrepreneur Hassanein Hiridjee, plans to integrate the satellite service into its existing Yas core network across Tanzania, Madagascar, the Comoros, Togo, and Senegal, ensuring seamless access for voice, video, data, and internet services. The partnership also envisions joint commercial offers for consumers, enterprises, IoT applications, and maritime, aviation, and emergency services.

“Our ambition has always been to build a network that works for everyone in Africa, not just those in cities,” said Hassan Jaber, CEO of Axian Telecom. “Connectivity is the foundation on which everything else is built, and too many people and businesses remain cut off.”

Expanding satellite adoption across Africa
African telecom operators are increasingly turning to satellite technology to reach poorly served regions. Vodafone, through its Vodacom operations in eight African markets, recently strengthened its collaboration with Amazon on LEO satellites. 

As companies like AST SpaceMobile are trying to fundamentally change how mobile networks work by turning satellites into cell towers in space, in a market where companies such as MTN Group, Vodacom, and Airtel Africa must build and maintain thousands of towers to reach rural communities.

In sparsely populated areas, those investments often fail to generate enough revenue. With satellites operated by AST SpaceMobile, coverage can be delivered directly from orbit, dramatically lowering the cost of expanding networks into remote regions. Unlike traditional satellite internet services such as Starlink from SpaceX, which require specialized ground dishes, AST SpaceMobile’s system connects directly to ordinary smartphones.

Yas’ current footprint and market position
As of September 2025, Axian Telecom, under the leadership of Hiridjee, the CEO of Axian and a leading figure in the Indian Ocean business world, served 43.1 million mobile subscribers and 13.5 million internet users, ranking sixth among African mobile operators. 

In Senegal, Yas held a 23.54% mobile market share and 20.82% in internet subscriptions, while in Tanzania, it commanded a 27.64% share of the mobile internet market, trailing Vodacom but ahead of Airtel. Despite these gains, internet penetration remains below 40% in key markets, leaving more than 1,000 localities without access.

By combining satellite technology with its core network, Axian Telecom aims to transform digital inclusion in Africa, delivering reliable connectivity to millions who remain offline and positioning Yas at the forefront of the continent’s next wave of telecom innovation.

AST chairman and CEO Abel Avellan disclosed in a separate regulatory filing that he holds 78.16 million shares, or 20.8% of the company’s Class A stock. Thanks to Class C shares that each come with ten votes, Avellan’s voting power stands at roughly 71.7%.