Kyivstar has received permission from the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC) to conduct tests of Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite technology. The first beta tests will begin this summer.
Kyivstar has received permission from the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC) to conduct tests of Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite technology. The first beta tests will begin this summer.
The Ukrainian electronic communications operator is the first in Europe and one of the first in the world — along with the USA, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand — to begin implementing a new format of direct satellite communication with a smartphone.
During the testing, the first studies of the operation of SpaceX Direct to Cell technology will be conducted, in particular the ability to receive text messages on 4G smartphones in Ukraine.
With Direct to Cell, Kyivstar plans to provide connectivity in so-called "white spots," i.e. regions without traditional terrestrial mobile coverage, including hard-to-reach mountainous and rural areas. This is especially important in wartime when infrastructure may be damaged or power outages may occur.
In the initial phase of implementation, the technology will allow subscribers to send text messages. The users' 4G/LTE phone will connect directly to the satellite in orbit without the need for additional hardware or software. The technology will work in open areas - with a direct view of the sky.
"In these difficult times, it is important for people to be able to stay in touch with their family and friends under any circumstances. That is why we are testing alternative technology as an additional communication tool that can provide insurance in various situations. Our task at the testing stage is to take into account all technical aspects and make the service as convenient and accessible as possible for subscribers," said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar.
Kyivstar specialists will begin the first beta testing of the service in the summer of 2025 in certain regions of Ukraine. Wider access in test mode for subscribers is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The first registration of the Kyivstar SIM card in the satellite network took place successfully in the USA, in the Starlink laboratory . This allowed us to check the compatibility of the networks and confirm the technical readiness for pilot tests in Ukraine.
At the end of 2024, Kyivstar signed an agreement with Starlink , a division of SpaceX, to begin implementing revolutionary Direct to Cell satellite communications in Ukraine. Kyivstar became the first in Europe to sign such an agreement with Starlink to launch direct satellite communications with a smartphone without additional devices.
UPDATED. 06/18/2025 5:00 PM
According to today's decision of the National Commission for State Regulation of Communications and Informatization, testing of SpaceX D2C radio technology will last from July 1 to September 28.
Testing will be conducted in an area with a radius of 130 km centered on
coordinates latitude 50°10'51.32"N, longitude 27°19'20.41"E. The zone covers three regional centers: Rivne, Zhytomyr and Khmelnytskyi.
The testing program includes:
"Demonstration (testing) of a technical solution based on the SpaceX system
D2C will be conducted with test (non-public) SIM cards by specialists
"PJSC Kyivstar in partnership with specialists from SpaceX to test and demonstrate the capabilities of equipment designed to operate using the radio technology "International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), the basic LTE (4G) standard in the 1800 MHz frequency range," the document states.
