Successful test for Direct-to-Cell at Sadabe. Airtel Madagascar has become the country's first operator to test Direct-to-Cell technology with SpaceX, an innovation that allows a 4G smartphone to communicate directly with a satellite when out of range of a terrestrial mobile network. On this occasion, the first WhatsApp video call via Direct-to-Cell conducted in Madagascar was successfully established, demonstrating the performance of this technology.
New perspectives: An interesting offer for users. Indeed, Direct-to-Cell technology opens new possibilities for improving connectivity in the most geographically isolated areas and strengthening the continuity of telecommunications services when terrestrial infrastructure is temporarily unavailable. The experiment, conducted at Sadabe in the presence of the Minister of Digital Development, Digital Transformation, Posts and Telecommunications, representatives of the National Risk and Disaster Management Bureau (BNGRC) and the Communications Technology Regulatory Authority (ARTEC), is part of the dynamic initiated by Airtel Africa with SpaceX to evaluate this satellite technology in its African markets and to prepare, subject to the success of the experiment conducted with ARTEC, the conditions for its future commercial deployment.
Positive response: A conclusive test, in any case, as during the demonstration, participants observed a 4G smartphone transparently connect to the satellite network, enabling WhatsApp messaging, voice and video calls via WhatsApp, as well as access to streaming services and social networks such as YouTube and Facebook. This is, in essence, a positive response to Madagascar's connectivity challenges, where geographical realities sometimes make the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure complex. Complementing existing mobile networks, Direct-to-Cell opens new perspectives for improving connectivity in certain isolated areas and strengthening communication continuity. Beyond improving connectivity, this technology could also help maintain telecommunications service continuity when terrestrial infrastructure is temporarily unavailable, particularly during recovery operations following a major climate event, thus facilitating exchanges between populations, authorities, emergency services and various actors mobilized in the field.
Ambition: This technology also opens new perspectives for supporting economic activities, public services and missions of general interest requiring connectivity beyond terrestrial mobile coverage, while contributing to strengthening digital inclusion. "Being the first operator to experiment with Direct-to-Cell in Madagascar reflects our ambition: to ensure that innovations transforming global telecommunications also benefit Malagasy people," said Anne Catherine Tchokonté, General Director of Airtel Madagascar. "The Government encourages innovation and remains open to any technology likely to accelerate digital inclusion for all Malagasy. Our ambition is to guarantee increasingly broad access to digital services, in compliance with our regulatory framework, our digital sovereignty and security requirements," according to Mahefa Andriamampiadana, Minister of Digital Development, Digital Transformation, Posts and Telecommunications.
National priorities: This demonstration marks a new step in evaluating Direct-to-Cell technology in the Malagasy context. It will allow analysis of its performance, potential uses and implementation conditions, in collaboration with ARTEC. Drawing on SpaceX's technological expertise and Airtel Africa's innovation strategy, Airtel Madagascar confirms its commitment to contributing to national priorities in digital transformation, telecommunications infrastructure resilience and digital inclusion. The lessons from this experiment will help evaluate the conditions for future commercial deployment of this technology in Madagascar, in compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks. Through this experiment, Airtel Madagascar reaffirms its commitment to supporting, alongside public authorities, ARTEC and its technology partners, digital development.