Starlink on the smartphones of Ukrainians: Kyivstar announced the launch of direct satellite communication

According to hvylya.net: The Ukrainian telecommunications company Kyivstar will be the first in Europe to launch mobile Starlink services from SpaceX. This was announced by the company's CEO Oleksandr Komarov in an interview with Reuters in Rome.

The launch will occur in phases. First, by the end of this year, messaging services through popular messengers will be available. 'The first phase is messaging through WhatsApp, Signal, and other systems. This will be implemented by the end of this year,' Komarov stated. Full mobile satellite internet and voice communication are planned for mid-2026.

The technology allows smartphones to connect directly to Starlink satellites, which operate like mobile communication towers in space. Field trials have already begun based on a contract with Elon Musk's company, signed at the end of 2024.

Komarov also spoke about the resilience of Ukrainian telecommunications infrastructure during the war. 'I think we are much more resilient than we were in 2022. Now we can maintain our fixed and mobile services for up to 10 hours during power outages,' he noted.

At the same time, Kyivstar is working on a historic listing on the American NASDAQ exchange, which they plan to complete in the third quarter of this year. According to Komarov, this will be 'the first direct placement of a Ukrainian enterprise on the American stock exchange during wartime.'

Conclusion

The company Kyivstar plans to be the first in Europe to launch mobile Starlink services from SpaceX. The launch will occur in phases, starting with messaging services, and in the future, with full mobile satellite internet and voice communication. The company has also increased the resilience of its telecommunications infrastructure during the military conflict and plans a historic listing on the American NASDAQ exchange.