Ukrainian business is initiating the opening of an official representative office of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which manufactures and supplies Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine.
Ukrainian business is initiating the opening of an official representative office of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which manufactures and supplies Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine.
In particular, according to Forbes, among the contenders for the title of official Starlink representative and reseller are the satellite terminal service company Stetman, as well as Kyivstar and Vodafone.
«We are actively fighting for this, the first attempts began a year and a half ago,» Stetman CEO Dmytro Stetsenko told Forbes.
In addition to Stetman, the largest mobile operator Kyivstar is also negotiating an official representation. Forbes Ukraine was told about this by an official from the telecom sector, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the topic. «All negotiations and coordination with the Starlink side are carried out exclusively within the framework of the operational implementation of the Direct to Cell service,» the company’s press service said in a response.*
Mobile operator Vodafone Ukraine was also negotiating this in April 2024, CEO Olga Ustinova told Forbes at the time. As of December 2024 , negotiations were on hold. «The status of the interaction has not changed,» the Vodafone Ukraine press service said in response.
Stetman is awaiting a decision or request for additional information from SpaceX regarding the representative office, says the company’s CEO Stetsenko. «Literally on May 20, they were still provided with certain materials,» he adds.
Vodafone Ukraine failed to reach an agreement on representation with SpaceX. «We have to pay customs duties at the border, and the product becomes uncompetitive compared to what is currently being imported into Ukraine,» Ustinova said in December 2024. Currently, Starlink is being imported into Ukraine from Europe through intermediaries.
According to estimates by Stetman CEO Stetsenko, there are about 200,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine. The Ministry of Digital Affairs’ data is more modest — 100,000.
The appearance of a Starlink representative office may contribute to the fact that it will be possible to pay for connection and use of satellite Internet in hryvnias, and will also reduce the volume of the illegal market of terminals, which are currently purchased through sole proprietors or individuals from Europe. Moreover, users will be able to receive device service locally.
Recall that Stetman is actively working on creating its own UASAT satellite network, which should compete with Starlink in terms of cost and characteristics.
The company also signed an agreement with Requtech (Sweden) for the licensed mass production of advanced satellite terminals that operate as an alternative to Starlink.
