Ukrainian telecom company Kyivstar has significantly increased its customer base thanks to Direct to Cell technology, which connects a smartphone to satellites directly without additional equipment.
Ukrainian telecom company Kyivstar has significantly increased its customer base thanks to Direct to Cell technology, which connects a smartphone to satellites directly without additional equipment.
Since its launch in November 2025, more than 3 million subscribers have registered for Starlink Direct to Cell service and more than 1.2 million SMS messages have been sent.
As stated in the company's press release , satellite technology is most widely used in five cities: Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, and Dnipro.
“The widespread implementation of the Starlink Direct to Cell satellite service confirms the correctness of our strategic investment in Starlink technology, which provides direct access to the Internet for residents of Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar.
"This technology complements the capabilities of our terrestrial network and provides the necessary communication when other means are unavailable - this is exactly what Ukraine needs now," Komarov added.
Kyivstar subscribers can test satellite communication technology on their SIM cards within the framework of existing tariff plans at no additional cost.
Currently, only SMS messages are available when connecting to the Kyivstar | SpaceX network, but in the future the service will be expanded to include data transmission. The technology works in open areas with a clear view of the sky.
iPhone devices with iOS 26.2 or later automatically detect and connect to the Kyivstar/SpaceX network in the event of a loss of terrestrial signal.
Earlier, Alexander Komarov said that Direct to Cell technology will be a free service for subscribers of the mobile operator for at least a year.
In addition to Direct to Cell, the telecom company also launched a pilot fifth-generation connection. For more information on how to connect to the new 5G technology, read the material on dev.ua
