MTN Rugged Mini Kit. Photo: MTN

SpaceX has authorized network operator MTN to provide satellite connectivity services to its government and defense clients, MTN said on Wednesday. MTN’s new services are being rolled out to its government and defense clients, effective immediately.

MTN has been an authorized Starlink reseller since 2023. As part of this agreement, MTN will launch “a special version” of its signature Rugged Mini Kit, which includes a Starlink Mini antenna, adapted for government and defense operations in off-grid or mobile environments.

“This move enables us to deliver communications with the highest assurance levels, perfectly complementing our existing Starlink-based commercial solutions and ensuring mission-critical continuity, whether at sea or in remote sites anywhere in the world,” MTN Government Solutions President and CEO Scott Davis said.

MTN joins a handful of providers permitted to deliver government connectivity services through SpaceX’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation. MTN said it will provide a specialized solution that incorporates premium features including high-assurance cryptography to protect sensitive data, resilient architecture, and tailored support for use cases like Earth Observation and command and control.

The move reflects MTN’s bet on LEO satellite connectivity’s viability as an alternative to traditional cellular infrastructure. MTN Director of Media and Corporate Communications Fernando Arreaza Vargas told IoTInsider last week that satellite connectivity would become a mainstay in corporate networks, rather than a niche backup, by 2027.