Ukraine’s Kyivstar partners with Starlink for direct-to-cell satellite connectivity
KYIV – Ukraine’s leading mobile operator, Kyivstar, has signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink to introduce direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, Kyivstar’s parent company, VEON VEON.O, said on Monday.
Kyivstar expects direct-to-cell services with messaging functionality to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2025, the telecoms group said in a joint statement. The operator will expand voice and data services in later stages.
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
The satellite broadband firm has struck deals with local providers for direct-to-cell services in the U.S. and seven other countries, including Japan and New Zealand.
The agreement comes as Musk, Starlink’s owner, grows more engaged with the incoming Trump administration in the U.S. and its Ukraine strategy.
Direct-to-cell services refer to a technology that enables communication or data to be delivered directly to a mobile phone, bypassing traditional infrastructure such as cell towers, base stations, or network providers. This can include sending messages, alerts, or internet data via satellite, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, or other advanced methods.
