(Kyiv, Ukraine) – In a groundbreaking development for telecommunications services in war-stricken Ukraine, Kyivstar has become the first mobile operator in Europe to launch nationwide direct to cell service through Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellite technology. The service, which went live on Monday November 24th, enables all Kyivstar subscribers with 4G smartphones to communicate via satellite in areas where traditional terrestrial networks are unavailable.
The landmark agreement between Kyivstar and Starlink allows Kyivstar customers in Ukraine to send and receive SMS messages directly through satellites using standard 4G smartphones, without requiring any specialized hardware, firmware modifications, or additional applications. The technology is particularly crucial for the country as it continues to face infrastructure challenges and power outages as a result of the war.
Since 2022, Kyivstar has made significant investments in its broader network, which have increased the network’s resilience more than fourfold. The new Direct to Cell technology, which Kyivstar has been testing for several months before its formal launch, represents the latest proactive measures the company has taken to enhance connectivity for its customers.
“In Ukraine, where blackouts and damage of infrastructure have become part of reality, staying connected means staying safe,” Kyivstar’s CEO Oleksandr Komarov said in a statement. “In critical moments, every text message matters, and this means millions of Ukrainians can now stay connected even under the most challenging conditions.”
The Starlink service provides connectivity during prolonged blackouts, in hard-to-reach areas, recently de-occupied territories where terrestrial networks are damaged, and for rescue and humanitarian missions. Initially offering SMS capabilities, Kyivstar plans to extend the service to include voice calls and mobile data in 2026. According to Komarov, more than 1,000,000 Kyivstar customers had already registered on the direct to cell network, and over 166,000 SMS messages had been sent/received during the first week of service. Kyivstar’s cooperation with Starlink is the company’s latest strategic partnership forged with a U.S. company, with other examples including Microsoft, Google and Amazon Web Services.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, applauded the long-awaited launch of this service. “Ukraine ranks first among European countries launching direct to cell technology,” he said. “This is an important step in developing infrastructure that will ensure connectivity even in areas without traditional networks. Despite all the challenges of wartime –constant Russian attacks on infrastructure, blackouts, and network damage – we continue to advance innovative solutions.”
The technology covers the entire geographical land area of Ukraine, excluding temporarily occupied areas, border regions, and active combat zones. Importantly, access to this technology is provided to all Kyivstar subscribers at no additional cost according to their existing tariff plans. As many as 15 million Kyivstar 4G customers in Ukraine will benefit from the direct to cell service agreement.
“Delivering the first Starlink Direct to Cell service in Europe in partnership with VEON and Kyivstar is an incredible milestone,” said Stephanie Bednarek, Starlink VP of Commercial Sales. “It’s powering life-saving connectivity for Ukrainians, supporting business operations and unlocking a new way to keep people and communities connected when they need it most.”
Beyond emergency communications, the technology will support various industries including agriculture, finance, and other businesses that require connectivity in remote locations.
The deployment in Ukraine is part of a non-exclusive framework agreement between Kyivstar’s ultimate parent company, VEON, and Starlink. The agreement has the potential to extend direct to cell satellite connectivity to other VEON markets that collectively serve 528 million people in the future. Beeline Kazakhstan, another VEON Group company, has signed a separate agreement to launch similar services in the Kazakhstan region.
Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group, said, “connectivity is an essential humanitarian need, and nowhere is it more vital today than in Ukraine.” He noted that “the launch also lays the foundation for VEON’s future projects that will enable satellite-powered resilient connectivity across our operations.”
Kyivstar Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW) became the first Ukrainian company to list on a U.S. stock exchange earlier this year. Its subsidiary, JSC Kyivstar, is Ukraine’s leading digital operator and serves more than 22.5 million mobile customers and over 1.2 million home internet customers. JSC Kyivstar and VEON together plan to invest $1 billion in new telecommunication technology in Ukraine between 2023-2027.
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