Microsoft has unveiled a fresh alliance with Starlink, aligning with its broader ambition to broaden digital inclusion, following the company’s prior announcement that it has already brought internet connectivity to upwards of 299 million individuals across the globe.
This update surfaced just ahead of the Mobile World Congress, an event where Microsoft elaborated on how it managed to surpass its initial benchmark of connecting 250 million people to the internet by the close of 2025.
In a recent blog post, Microsoft confirmed it is currently teaming up with Starlink to augment network accessibility, particularly concentrating on remote and underserved territories.
“Through this collaboration with Starlink, Microsoft is synthesizing low-Earth orbit satellite connectivity with localized deployment frameworks and local ecosystem partnerships,” the corporation stated.
The objective of this joint venture is to enhance Microsoft’s ongoing efforts alongside local Internet Service Providers and infrastructure firms situated in Africa, Latin America, India, and sundry other locales. Microsoft observed that in certain areas, conventional infrastructure alone proves insufficient to meet connectivity demands, positioning low-Earth orbit satellite service as a critical overlay.
Kenya was cited as one of the initial demonstrations of this partnership in action. Working alongside Starlink and the local provider, Mawingu Networks, Microsoft is furnishing connectivity to 450 community hubs situated in rural and economically disadvantaged zones.
Microsoft further highlighted that a staggering 2.2 billion people worldwide remain without internet access, and warned that this accessibility gap risks widening as the rollout of artificial intelligence technologies accelerates.
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