Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov announced that Ukraine will become the first European country with access to Starlink satellite internet on phones. The operator will begin implementing this service by the end of the year.
Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov announced that Ukraine will become the first European country with access to Starlink satellite internet on phones. The operator will begin implementing this service by the end of the year.
This was reported by Reuters, citing Komarov. It is noted that messaging via Starlink should appear in Kyivstar by the end of the year, and access to mobile satellite broadband Internet — in mid-2026.
Field tests began as part of a deal struck in late 2024 with SpaceX to allow Elon Musk’s company to launch direct mobile phone communication services in Ukraine.
«The first stage is OTT (over-the-top) messaging, that is, via WhatsApp, Signal and other systems… It will be launched at the end of this year. «And probably in early 2026, let’s be careful, in the second quarter of 2026, we will be able to offer mobile satellite broadband access to data… and voice,» Komarov said.
It was previously reported that the agreement between Kyivstar and Starlink on the implementation of Direct to Cell satellite communication is designed for three years with automatic extension.
Komarov also commented on the listing of Kyivstar shares on the American stock exchange NASDAQ. According to him, the project is «moving forward» and he hopes to complete it in the third quarter of this year.
«I think this will be an exemplary step. The first direct listing of a Ukrainian company on the American stock exchange in history… during a war», — he added.
Recall that in early June, Kyivstar tested Direct to Cell technology and for the first time confirmed the compatibility of its SIM card with the Starlink satellite network.
