Starlink direct-to-cell launches in Ukraine with Kyivstar

Ukraine’s leading operator has become the first in Europe to introduce SpaceX’s Starlink satellite reception service directly on smartphones. The access is intended to meet the urgent need to keep people connected during major outages caused by Russian attacks on infrastructure.

Starlink is expanding its eagerly anticipated “direct-to-cell” service, which links phones to the internet via satellites deployed by SpaceX. On Monday 24 November, it emerged that Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest telecoms operator, will be the first in Europe to make the service available to its customers.

In a statement, Kyivstar said the partnership would safeguard communications for millions of Ukrainian phones at a time when intensified Russian military attacks are severely weakening infrastructure, and consequently mobile and internet networks.

Starlink direct-to-cell strengthens network resilience in Ukraine

Initially, Starlink’s direct-to-cell offering in Ukraine will be restricted to sending SMS messages. Mobile data for internet access and voice calls will be added next year, following an agreement between SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and Veon, the group that owns Kyivstar.

“In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe,” said Kyivstar chief executive Oleksandr Komarov. According to its latest count, the operator has 22.5 million mobile customers. To cope with blackouts resulting from the armed conflict with Russia, the country’s leading operator has already installed generators capable of powering its infrastructure for up to 10 hours when needed.

Ukraine’s existing Starlink terminal network

Ukraine also moved quickly to adopt Starlink antenna solutions in order to maintain internet access. According to official sources cited by Reuters, 50,000 terminals are active across the country. Globally, 8 million people have already subscribed to Starlink’s direct-to-cell service, which is available in the United States and Canada, Japan, Chile and Australia.

Starlink “direct-to-cell” still bypasses the European Union

Starlink’s direct-to-cell service has also been announced in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. So far, no country in the European Union has been named. In France, the offer only covers reception antennas, which can replace home fibre broadband. Subscriptions are available to both private individuals and businesses. Click here to read about our experience after one year with Starlink, or watch the video below.

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