Ukraine is set to make history by becoming the first European country to offer mobile services via Starlink satellites , Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said on Tuesday . Kyivstar 's partnership with SpaceX is expected to pave the way for satellite communications directly via smartphones .
The plan includes two phases:
- End of 2025 : service messaging Satellite begins piloting , supporting apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram.
- Mid-2026 : Full satellite broadband and voice communication follows , which will allow direct access to the internet and telephone services without the need for a terrestrial network.
See also: Starlink satellite falls from space over the US
The first field tests are already underway, under an agreement signed with SpaceX at the end of 2024, allowing the development of direct-to-cell technology in the country.
Starlink satellites act as cell in space, allowing direct connection to smartphones, without the intermediary of base stations, according to Komarov.
Ukraine – Starlink: A strategic recovery tool in the midst of war
The announcement was made at the International Conference on Ukraine's Recovery in Rome, which aims to strengthen economic reconstruction and forge new business partnerships. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
For Komarov, the implementation of the cooperation with Starlink is part of a broader strategic resilience plan, which also includes the plan to list Kyivstar on the US stock exchange (NASDAQ)within the third quarter of 2025.
“I think it will be an exemplary move,” he said. “The first in history, the direct placement of (a) Ukrainian entity on the American stock exchange… during the war,” he noted.
See also: iOS 18.3: Access to the Starlink network for iPhone users
Telecommunications infrastructure under pressure — yet resilient
Despite intensified Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Kyivstar says its network has demonstrated significant resilience. Even in cases of extended power outages, the company manages to keep mobile and landline services active for up to 10 hours, thanks to investments in backup systems and reserve power.
The global trend of direct-to-smartphone networking
Ukraine is becoming a technological pioneer in Europe for the new generation of satellite mobile telephony. Similarly, in the US, T-Mobile has already planned for October 2025 the first availability of data services via Starlink, aiming to cover rural areas and enhance network autonomy in emergencies.
See also: "PathWiper" attack targets critical infrastructure in Ukraine
The “space-to-phone” trend is the next big challenge in the telecommunications industry and promises internet access anywhere on the planet — and Ukraine, despite geopolitical instability, seems determined to lead the way.
Source: Reuters
