Kyivstar and Mastercard launch strategic partnership to advance innovative technologies and digital economy
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) and Mastercard signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on October 15, 2025 to form a strategic partnership focused on innovative payment and digital solutions in Ukraine.
Key collaboration areas include testing Starlink Direct to Cell satellite-to-mobile technology for payments in mobile-dead zones, promoting cashless payments, expanding financial services access, and developing Big Data-driven financial scoring and personalized offers. The memorandum is valid for one year with possible extension; separate agreements will be signed for specific projects.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) e Mastercard hanno firmato il 15 ottobre 2025 un Memorandum d'Intesa per formare una partnership strategica focalizzata su soluzioni di pagamento innovative e digitali in Ucraina.
Le principali aree di collaborazione includono la messa alla prova di Starlink Direct to Cell, tecnologia satellite-to-mobile per pagamenti nelle zone con segnale mobile assente, la promozione dei pagamenti senza contanti, l'espansione dell'accesso ai servizi finanziari e lo sviluppo di scoring finanziario basato su Big Data e offerte personalizzate. Il memorandum è valido per un anno con possibile estensione; saranno stipulati accordi separati per progetti specifici.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) y Mastercard firmaron un Memorando de Cooperación el 15 de octubre de 2025 para formar una asociación estratégica centrada en soluciones de pago y digitales innovadoras en Ucrania.
Áreas clave de la colaboración incluyen probar la tecnología Starlink Direct to Cell, de satélite a móvil, para pagos en zonas sin cobertura móvil, promover pagos sin efectivo, ampliar el acceso a servicios financieros y desarrollar puntuación financiera basada en Big Data y ofertas personalizadas. El memorandum es válido por un año con posible prórroga; se firmarán acuerdos separados para proyectos específicos.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) 및 Mastercard는 2025년 10월 15일 우크라이나에서 혁신적인 결제 및 디지털 솔루션에 초점을 맞춘 전략적 파트너십을 형성하기 위한 협력 양해각서를 체결했습니다.
주요 협력 분야에는 모바일-사전지대에서의 결제를 위한 위성-모바일 기술 Starlink Direct to Cell의 테스트, 현금 없는 결제 촉진, 금융 서비스 접근성 확대, 빅데이터 기반의 금융 신용평가 및 맞춤형 제안 개발이 포함됩니다. 양해각서는 1년간 유효하며 연장될 수 있으며, 구체적 프로젝트에 대해서는 별도의 계약이 체결됩니다.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq : KYIV) et Mastercard ont signé, le 15 octobre 2025, un Memorandum d'Entente pour former un partenariat stratégique axé sur des solutions de paiement et numériques innovantes en Ukraine.
Domaines clés de la collaboration: tester la technologie Starlink Direct to Cell, du satellite vers le mobile, pour les paiements dans les zones sans couverture réseau, promouvoir les paiements sans contact, étendre l'accès aux services financiers et développer un scoring financier basé sur les Big Data et des offres personnalisées. Le mémorandum est valable un an avec possibilité de prolongation; des accords séparés seront signés pour des projets spécifiques.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) und Mastercard haben am 15. Oktober 2025 eine Absichtserklärung unterzeichnet, um eine strategische Partnerschaft zu bilden, die sich auf innovative Zahlungs- und Digitallösungen in der Ukraine konzentriert.
Wichtige Kooperationsbereiche umfassen das Testen der Satellite-to-Mobile-Technologie Starlink Direct to Cell für Zahlungen in mobilen Totzonen, die Förderung bargeldloser Zahlungen, den Ausbau des Zugangs zu Finanzdienstleistungen und die Entwicklung eines auf Big Data basierenden finanziellen Scoreings sowie personalisierte Angebote. Das Memorandum ist ein Jahr lang gültig und kann verlängert werden; für konkrete Projekte werden separate Vereinbarungen geschlossen.
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) و Mastercard وقعتا مذكرة تفاهم في 15 أكتوبر 2025 لإقامة شراكة إستراتيجية تركز على حلول الدفع والرقمية المبتكرة في أوكرانيا.
تشمل مجالات التعاون الرئيسية اختبار تكنولوجيا Starlink Direct to Cell من القمر الصناعي إلى الهاتف المحمول للدفع في المناطق التي يغيب فيها الإشارة، والترويج للدفع غير النقدي، وتوسيع الوصول إلى الخدمات المالية، وتطوير تقييم مالي قائم على البيانات الكبيرة وعروض مخصصة. تكون المذكرة سارية لمدة عام واحد قابلة للتمديد؛ وسيتم توقيع اتفاقيات منفصلة للمشروعات المحددة.
Kyivstar (纳斯达克：KYIV) 与 Mastercard 于 2025 年 10 月 15 日签署了合作备忘录，旨在在乌克兰形成一个聚焦于创新支付和数字解决方案的战略伙伴关系。
主要协作领域包括测试 Starlink Direct to Cell卫星到移动技术，用于在移动信号死区进行支付，推动无现金支付，扩大金融服务获取，并开发基于大数据的金融评分和个性化优惠。该备忘录有效期为一年，可延期；对于具体项目将另行签署单独协议。
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Insights
Kyivstar and Mastercard form a strategic partnership to boost payment resilience and expand cashless services in Ukraine for at least one year.
Kyivstar and Mastercard combine telecom reach and global payments expertise to pilot satellite-enabled payments using Starlink Direct to Cell and to develop data-driven financial products. The collaboration targets greater payment continuity in mobile-dead zones and emergencies, broader merchant acceptance, and personalized consumer offers built on Big Data and analytics.
The plan depends on successful technical pilots, regulatory alignment, and separate project contracts; the Memorandum lasts until
Watch for concrete milestones: launch and results of the Starlink Direct to Cell payment pilot, signed project agreements for specific products, and merchant rollout metrics within the Memorandum term (
KYIV, Ukraine, Oct. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV), Ukraine’s leading digital operator, and global technology company Mastercard have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership between the companies. Their joint efforts will focus on developing innovative technological solutions to strengthen the resilience of the country’s financial infrastructure, promote cashless payments, and expand access to financial services.
Kyivstar and Mastercard plan to test the Starlink Direct to Cell satellite technology in the payment infrastructure. This breakthrough satellite-to-mobile technology powers connectivity in mobile dead zones, keeping consumers connected when they need it most, and will enable financial transactions in areas without mobile coverage or during emergencies. Starlink Direct to Cell opens new prospectives for the financial services and fintech market, ensuring greater resilience and accessibility of financial services for an even wider customer base.
Kyivstar and Mastercard will also work on developing new financial products and services. The companies will leverage their Big Data and analytics capabilities to design products that improve customer insights and expand access to financial services. Areas of cooperation will include the development of financial scoring solutions and personalized offers for consumers.
“Resilience and reliability of infrastructure today are just as crucial an element of national security. The Memorandum with Mastercard is a mutual trust and readiness to work on tasks that are critically important for the country. Together with Mastercard’s global payment expertise, we are combining our strengths in digital product development to boost Ukraine’s resilience and expand access to innovative financial services,” emphasized Illia Polshakov, Director of New Business Development at Kyivstar.
As part of the cooperation, the companies will implement advanced technological solutions for e-commerce, ensuring high security standards and a seamless customer experience. The partners also plan to introduce initiatives aimed at promoting cashless payments, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses.
“Technology should serve society and make people’s lives more convenient and secure. The partnership with Kyivstar is an important step toward realizing this vision in Ukraine. By joining forces, we aim not only to strengthen the resilience of payment infrastructure in today’s challenging environment, but also to accelerate the growth of the digital economy. Cooperation with a telecom market leader opens new opportunities for implementing innovative financial solutions and technologies that will benefit both large and small businesses, as well as every Ukrainian,” said Inga Andreieva, Country Manager of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova.
The Memorandum will be valid for one year, with the possibility of further extension. Within the framework of cooperation, the parties will sign separate agreements for specific projects. The Memorandum serves as confirmation of the companies’ mutual understanding and shared strategic priorities.
About Kyivstar Group Ltd
Kyivstar Group Ltd (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW) ("Kyivstar Group") is a Nasdaq-listed holding company that manages the Kyivstar group of companies in Ukraine. Through its subsidiaries, Kyivstar Group is the country’s leading digital operator and the first Ukrainian company to have its shares traded on a U.S. stock exchange. The group’s companies provide a broad range of connectivity and digital services, including mobile and fixed-line voice and data, ride-hailing, e-health, digital TV, and enterprise solutions such as big data, cloud, and cybersecurity. Together with VEON, Kyivstar Group has committed to investing USD 1 billion in Ukraine during 2023–2027, focusing on infrastructure and technology development, charitable support, and strategic acquisitions. For more information, please visit https://investors.kyivstar.ua.
About Kyivstar
JSC Kyivstar (“Kyivstar”) is Ukraine’s leading digital operator, serving around 22.4 million mobile subscribers and over 1.1 million fixed-line Home internet customers as of June 30, 2025. The company provides services using a wide range of mobile and fixed technologies, including 4G, Big Data, cloud solutions, cybersecurity services, digital TV, and more. Kyivstar is advancing new telecommunication technologies in Ukraine and together with VEON plans to invest USD 1 billion in this direction during 2023–2027.Kyivstar is wholly owned by Kyivstar Group Ltd (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW), the first Ukrainian company to have its shares traded on the U.S. stock exchange Nasdaq. The company contributes to overcoming the challenges of wartime and, over the past three years, has allocated more than UAH 3.4 billion to support the Defence Forces, its subscribers, and the implementation of social projects. Kyivstar has operated in Ukraine for 27 years and is recognised as the largest taxpayer in the digital communications market, a top employer, and a socially responsible company. Additional information: pr@kyivstar.net, www.kyivstar.ua.
About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
www.mastercard.com
FAQ
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