Kyivstar Tests Starlink Direct to Cell in Ukraine

VEON’s Київстар has completed the first Eastern European field test of Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellite technology, enabling messaging on standard 4G smartphones without additional hardware. The pilot, conducted in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, saw Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov exchange messages directly via satellite.

The breakthrough aims to ensure connectivity in areas without terrestrial networks, critical during crises or in remote locations. Kyivstar plans to commercially launch the service in Q4 2025, starting with messaging before expanding to data capabilities such as video communication.

Fedorov hailed the test as “an important step” toward borderless communication, while Komarov called it “a breakthrough” for Ukraine’s connectivity future. VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu emphasized that integrating satellite and terrestrial networks offers resilience against outages, natural disasters, and wartime disruptions.

The partnership underscores Kyivstar’s commitment to advanced technology and forms part of its $1 billion investment in Ukraine’s infrastructure through 2027.