Kyivstar Expands Testing of Starlink Direct to Cell Satellite Technology Throughout Ukraine
Rhea-AI Summary
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) will begin nationwide testing of Starlink Direct to Cell by SpaceX across Ukraine on Oct 31, 2025, excluding border areas, active combat zones, and occupied territories.
The company received permission from the national regulator (NCEC) and will test using frequencies Kyivstar is licensed to operate. Initial functionality will enable SMS outdoors at no additional cost, with voice and mobile internet expected in later stages. Kyivstar said tests will include subscribers and business clients and focus on emergency, frontline, mountainous, de-occupied, and hard-to-reach areas.
Kyivstar serves about 22.4 million mobile subscribers and plans investments in telecom technology through 2027.
Positive
- NCEC granted permission to conduct nationwide testing
- Initial SMS service available outdoors at no additional cost
- Testing covers all regions except excluded security zones
- Tests will include both subscribers and business clients
- Kyivstar serves ~22.4 million mobile subscribers
Negative
- Testing excludes border, active combat, and occupied territories
- Initial service limited to outdoor SMS only
- Voice and mobile internet functionality not yet available
Insights
Kyivstar received regulator approval to run nationwide tests of Starlink Direct to Cell, starting SMS outdoor trials and aiming for broader services by end of 2025.
Kyivstar will test Starlink Direct to Cell across Ukraine excluding border, active combat, and occupied areas using frequencies it holds and with permission from the NCEC. Engineers will run real‑world trials with subscribers and business clients; the first feature available is SMS for outdoor use with a clear sky view, at no extra cost. The company serves about 22.4 million mobile subscribers and 1.1 million fixed customers and intends to expand testing nationwide by
The business mechanism is straightforward: satellites provide a parallel radio path so standard 4G phones can send SMS without terrestrial sites, improving reach during blackouts and in hard‑to‑serve locations. The regulator explicitly conditions tests on avoiding radio interference and preserving core mobile service quality, which creates a clear operational constraint for test design and spectrum management. Initial capability is limited (SMS outdoors) and later stages are stated to target voice and mobile data; those upgrades remain subject to successful testing and regulatory checks.
Key dependencies and risks include maintaining non‑interference with existing networks, validating service quality in varied terrain and conflict‑affected areas, and operational limits in obstructed environments where satellite line‑of‑sight fails. Watch for test results on service reliability, any regulator findings on interference, and announcements about roll‑out of voice and internet capabilities. Relevant near‑term milestones: regulatory permission in place (
KYIV, Ukraine, Oct. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JSC Kyivstar (“Kyivstar”), Ukraine’s leading digital operator, is initiating preparations for nationwide testing of the innovative Starlink Direct to Cell technology by SpaceX. This is the second phase of the process, which will cover all regions of Ukraine except for border areas, active combat zones, and temporarily occupied territories. The technology aims to provide critically needed connectivity in areas where terrestrial service is unavailable.
Kyivstar has received the necessary permission for testing from the National Commission for the state regulation of electronic communications, radio frequency spectrum and the provision of postal services (NCEC). The testing will be conducted using frequencies that Kyivstar is licensed to operate by the national regulator.
Kyivstar believes the technology will be especially useful during prolonged blackouts, in frontline and de-occupied areas, for humanitarian demining operators, emergency services (SES), mountainous regions, and other hard-to-reach zones without mobile coverage. Additionally, Kyivstar plans to conduct testing involving subscribers and business clients, unlocking new opportunities to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and resilient business operations under challenging conditions.
“Testing Starlink Direct to Cell is an important step toward building an additional communication system that complements our terrestrial mobile infrastructure,” said Illya Polshakov, New Business Development Director at Kyivstar. “The technology will enable businesses to serve customers in areas without connectivity and allow users to stay connected even in the most challenging moments. We are grateful to the regulator for its cooperation and permission to conduct the testing. This is a revolutionary step in the development of connectivity that brings the future closer. We are investing in safety and technology to maintain connectivity for Ukrainians.”
Kyivstar engineers will test the technology in real-world conditions to evaluate its effectiveness across various scenarios — from emergency situations to everyday use. During the testing, Kyivstar will ensure compliance with all safety standards and maintain the quality of core mobile services throughout the entire satellite technology testing period.
“The NCEC supports the introduction of new technologies, especially those that can significantly improve the accessibility and quality of communication for people,” commented Liliia Malion, the Chairwoman of NCEC. “During the war, the ability to stay connected becomes particularly important. At the same time, as the Regulator, we carefully monitor that the testing of new technologies does not affect the operation of existing networks, does not cause radio interference, and fully complies with all technical and regulatory requirements.”
The Starlink Direct to Cell technology enables standard 4G-capable smartphones to connect directly to satellites without relying on terrestrial base stations. In the first stage of implementation, the SMS feature is expected to be available only for outdoor use, in areas with a clear, unobstructed view of the sky, at no additional cost to subscribers. Kyivstar expects future stages will introduce voice calls and mobile internet, significantly expanding the service’s capabilities. By the end of 2025, all Ukrainians across the country are expected to begin testing this revolutionary technology, made available through Kyivstar.
About JSC 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 (the “Kyivstar Group”) (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
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to, among other things, the expected benefits and utility of Starlink Direct to Cell technology, the timing and implementation of testing of the Starlink Direct to Cell technology by Kyivstar, and the expected capabilities of Starlink Direct to Cell technology, once implemented. These statements represent Kyivstar Group’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, intentions, estimates or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions). Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Kyivstar Group’s, actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in the final prospectus filed by Kyivstar Group with the U.S. Securities and exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 22, 2025, as amended and supplemented from time to time, and in any other subsequent filings with the SEC by Kyivstar Group. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which Kyivstar Group cannot predict with accuracy and some of which Kyivstar Group might not even anticipate. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. Kyivstar Group does not undertake to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.
FAQ
What did Kyivstar announce about Starlink Direct to Cell testing on Oct 31, 2025?
Will Kyivstar subscribers be able to use Starlink Direct to Cell immediately (KYIV)?
Which areas in Ukraine will Kyivstar's Starlink testing cover for KYIV stockholders to note?
Did Kyivstar receive regulatory approval to test Starlink Direct to Cell (KYIV)?
How will Kyivstar use Starlink Direct to Cell during emergencies and outages?
What customer groups will Kyivstar include in Starlink Direct to Cell testing (KYIV)?
