Overview
- Microsoft confirmed a new collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink to extend connectivity in hard‑to‑reach regions, building on prior Azure–Starlink links and Foundry support for Grok models.
- The initial rollout in Kenya is in partnership with local ISP Mawingu Networks, targeting connectivity for 450 community hubs including farmer cooperatives, aggregation centers and digital access sites.
- Deployments pair low‑Earth‑orbit backhaul with Azure cloud resources, AI tools and local skills training to support outcomes such as higher agricultural productivity and improved market access.
- Microsoft says it has extended internet coverage to more than 299 million people since 2022, surpassing its goal of 250 million by the end of 2025.
- Coverage notes Starlink’s expanding capacity and recent cellular upgrades for higher‑bandwidth use, and the partnership proceeds even as Elon Musk pursues a $134 billion legal claim against OpenAI and Microsoft.