Beeline Kazakhstan Launches Starlink Direct-to-Device Service

VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan has launched Starlink Mobile direct-to-device connectivity, allowing customers to use compatible smartphones in areas outside the operator's terrestrial mobile coverage without requiring dedicated satellite hardware.

The service initially supports access to messaging and selected apps, with smartphones connecting directly to Starlink satellites when conventional cellular coverage is unavailable. Beeline says the service is intended primarily for remote locations, mountain areas and highways outside cities, with performance dependent on users having a sufficiently clear view of the sky. Access will initially be offered free of charge.

Customers can activate and manage the satellite service through Janymda, Beeline Kazakhstan's digital platform, integrating D2D connectivity into the operator's existing customer experience rather than treating it as a separate satellite product. Potential applications include emergency communications, road and utility operations, tourism and workers operating in isolated locations, as well as maintaining communications when terrestrial infrastructure is disrupted by natural disasters.

The commercial launch follows a memorandum signed by Beeline Kazakhstan, Starlink and the country's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in November 2025, followed by initial technical trials in December. Beeline describes itself as the first mobile operator in Kazakhstan to commercially introduce Starlink's satellite-to-mobile service.