VEON subsidiary, Kyivstar, and Starlink have partnered to introduce revolutionary direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Ukraine.
Set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, the service will position Ukraine among the first nations to adopt Starlink’s cutting-edge, direct-to-cell technology.
Initially, Kyivstar customers will gain access to SMS and OTT messaging services, with plans to expand to voice and data capabilities in subsequent phases. This development aims to significantly bolster Ukraine’s connectivity resilience.
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4G Expansion
“Kyivstar has done a tremendous job in investing in Ukraine’s 4G connectivity, expanding coverage to remote areas and increasing the energy resilience of its network. Today’s announcement helps us take our commitment to Ukraine’s connectivity to the next level, exponentially amplifying the resilience of our services with satellite connectivity,” said Kaan Terzioğlu, CEO, VEON Group.
Kyivstar has steadfastly expanded 4G coverage to remote regions of Ukraine and ensured the resilience of digital services during energy blackouts. The operator has made substantial investments in its 4G network, spectrum, and energy redundancy.
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Connectivity During Crisis
Kyivstar’s parent company, VEON, has invested over USD 10 billion in Ukraine since 2013 and pledged an additional USD 1 billion toward the country’s recovery and reconstruction between 2023 and 2027.
“Kyivstar has been the backbone of Ukraine’s resilience throughout the war, and we are committed to leaving no stone unturned to keep Ukraine connected. Our collaboration with Starlink is a game-changer in our journey towards achieving our ‘LTE everywhere’ ambition. We are humbled to be the operator that serves its customer with exceptional services, and the company that brings the invaluable capabilities of global technology giants to the people of Ukraine through our international partnerships,” said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO, Kyivstar.
“VEON’s pioneering spirit has always put us at the forefront of serving the underserved in frontier markets. Working with Starlink, we will now leverage space technology to bridge the connectivity gaps to extend our reach far beyond the current 160 million people we serve. This agreement marks a transformative year for VEON: from relocating our headquarters to Dubai to focusing all our trading on Nasdaq in New York and ultimately to reinforcing our commitment to innovation and growth in the regions that need it the most,” Augie K Fabela II, Chairman and Founder of VEON, added.
