Microsoft has announced a new partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink in an effort to expand satellite-powered internet access around the world.
The announcement comes as Microsoft revealed it has surpassed its ambitious goal of extending connectivity to 250 million people by the end of 2025. According to the company, it has now helped bring internet access to more than 299 million people globally, including over 124 million across Africa.
But with an estimated 2.2 billion people still offline, Microsoft says traditional infrastructure alone cannot close the gap and is turning to Starlink for help.
By integrating Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network with Microsoft’s cloud services and community-based programs, the companies aim to deliver high-speed connectivity to rural, agricultural, and hard-to-reach regions where fiber and cellular networks are either cost-prohibitive or logistically unfeasible.
The company has increasingly framed digital access as foundational to participation in the AI economy. While AI tools are being adopted at record pace in higher-income regions, gaps in infrastructure and digital readiness are widening disparities between the Global North and Global South.
Microsoft says connectivity must be paired with energy access, affordable devices, and digital skills training to ensure communities can fully benefit from AI-driven innovation.
Kenya is one of the first large-scale examples of this new partnership. Working alongside local partners, Microsoft plans to support connectivity for up to 450 community hubs across rural and underserved regions of the country.
These hubs will include farmer cooperatives, aggregation centers, and digital access facilities designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve market access.
