Business
Kyivstar Launches Starlink Direct to Cell Satellite Connectivity in Ukraine
Today’s Launch Makes Ukraine the First Country in Europe Where Starlink Direct to Cell is Available to Customers KYIV, Ukraine, Nov. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
About this update from Kyivstar Group Ltd.
[{"type":"text","content":"Today’s Launch Makes Ukraine the First Country in Europe Where Starlink Direct to Cell is Available to Customers\nKYIV, Ukraine, Nov. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW), Ukraine’s leading digital operator, today announced that Starlink Direct to Cell satellite connectivity by SpaceX is now available for testing to all Kyivstar subscribers. Ukrainians can now stay connected even in dead zones. Kyivstar is the first in Europe to provide access to satellite technology to enable sending and receiving SMS messages in areas where terrestrial connections are unavailable. The next connectivity phase will enable light data with voice and video capabilities. Now every Kyivstar subscriber using a 4G smartphone can stay connected even during prolonged blackouts, in hard-to-reach areas, or in remote villages. The technology will be especially important for Ukrainians in areas near the front line and in de-occupied territories where the terrestrial network is damaged or under restoration, as well as for rescuers and humanitarian missions – everyone who needs to remain connected in challenging conditions. This new capability will also support traditional commerce and business, enabling farmers, the financial sector, and other industries to stay connected and work more efficiently in places where this was previously impossible or difficult. When terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable and text-based messengers don’t work, SMS remains the primary and most reliable channel of communication – to share your coordinates, ask for help, or let your loved ones know you are safe. “In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe,” said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar. “To ensure this for millions of Ukrainians, we have been equipping our network with batteries and generators that provide up to 10 hours of continuous coverage when the grid power is not available due extended blackouts. Today we are introducing the cutting-edge Direct to Cell technology which will increase this resilience significantly, starting with a vital functionality that is critical for our people. We are committed to carrying our partnership with Starlink further, ensuring the resilience of connectivity across Ukraine, which today becomes the first country in Europe to introduce Starlink Direct to Cell.” The primary purpose of Starlink Direct to Cell t...