Kyivstar Becomes Europe’s First Operator to Launch Starlink Direct-to-Cell Service

Kyivstar has launched Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellite connectivity across Ukraine, making the country the first in Europe where the service is available. Through VEON’s partnership with Starlink, Kyivstar customers can now send and receive SMS via satellite on standard 4G smartphones, ensuring connectivity in areas without terrestrial coverage.

The rollout provides a critical layer of resilience for a nation whose telecom infrastructure faces constant wartime disruption. Direct-to-cell messaging will support citizens during blackouts, reconnect recently liberated regions where networks are damaged, and enhance communications for emergency responders and humanitarian operations. Businesses operating in remote or infrastructure-challenged areas will also benefit from reliable fallback connectivity.

Voice and data services are planned for 2026, extending the utility of satellite-to-mobile links as part of Ukraine’s broader digital resilience strategy.

Officials emphasised the milestone’s significance in enabling uninterrupted communication in crisis conditions, strengthening national safety, and marking a major step toward Europe-wide adoption as VEON prepares similar deployments in other markets. For Kyivstar subscribers, satellite messaging is available at no additional cost, with nationwide coverage across Ukraine except for occupied territories, border zones, and active combat areas.

SOURCE: https://www.veon.com/newsroom/press-releases/kyivstar-launches-starlink-direct-to-cell-satellite-connectivity-in-ukraine