For Kyivstar Customers in Ukraine, Out of Coverage No Longer Means Out of Touch
Rhea-AI Summary
VEON (Nasdaq: VEON), parent of Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV), announced that Kyivstar customers in Ukraine can now use satellite-ready apps via Starlink Mobile when there is no terrestrial coverage or during power outages.
Supported apps include Viber, WhatsApp and Google Maps, with more services planned.
Positive
- Satellite-powered access to Viber, WhatsApp and Google Maps in no-coverage areas
- Planned expansion to Helsi e-health, Uklon ride-hailing and business continuity apps
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – VEON
In the Jun 16 session, VEON gained 1.18%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11 | Digital commerce launch | Positive | +2.1% | Launch of Uklon Store marketplace to deepen Kyivstar digital ecosystem. |
| Jun 10 | Content rights deal | Positive | +0.4% | Banglalink secures OTT streaming rights for all World Cup 2026 matches. |
| Jun 09 | Leadership appointment | Positive | +1.0% | Appointment of Serkan Ozturk as Chief of Staff & Strategy Officer. |
| Jun 05 | Mobility acquisition | Positive | -0.3% | Kyivstar’s Uklon agrees to acquire E-wings micromobility operator. |
| Jun 03 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -4.9% | Announcement of 2Q26 earnings release date and planned conference call. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent company news, mainly ecosystem and content expansions, has often seen modest positive price alignment, with occasional negative divergence on financing or date-related items.
Over the last weeks, VEON has highlighted several digital ecosystem initiatives across its markets. Kyivstar’s Uklon Store launch and Banglalink’s World Cup 2026 streaming rights both saw small positive reactions, while a strategy-focused leadership appointment also aligned with a gain. The E-wings acquisition for micromobility elicited a slight negative move, and the July 31, 2026 2Q26 earnings date announcement coincided with a larger decline. Today’s Kyivstar–Starlink Mobile connectivity update continues the theme of expanding digital services and network resilience.
Key Terms
satellite-ready technical
terrestrial signal technical
Starlink Mobile technical
satellite-to-mobile technical
e-health medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Powered by Starlink Mobile, Kyivstar customers can access satellite-ready apps even when there is no terrestrial signal, starting with Viber, WhatsApp and Google Maps
Dubai, Kyiv, and New York, June 16, 2026 – VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator and the parent company of Kyivstar Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW), today announced that Kyivstar customers in Ukraine can now access satellite-ready apps, even where there is no terrestrial coverage or during prolonged power outages. Starting with Viber, WhatsApp and Google Maps, Kyivstar customers with a compatible smartphone can now message and find their way with data connectivity from Starlink Mobile.
In situations where the traditional mobile network is unavailable, reaching family or emergency services can be what matters most. Expanding data capabilities to the satellite-to-mobile service builds on Kyivstar’s earlier launch of text messaging via Starlink Mobile satellites. Now, supported apps will switch automatically to a satellite data connection so customers can send and receive voice and video notes, messages and photos, and use maps and navigation.
“Our job as a digital operator is to keep people connected to what matters, even when they are far from the nearest town or facing disruptions to the terrestrial network,” said Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON Group. “This starts with messaging and maps, and we plan to extend it to more digital services, including Kyivstar’s own Helsi e-health service and the ride-hailing app Uklon.”
“We have already seen strong demand for text messaging powered by Starlink Mobile. Now, where there is no terrestrial coverage, customers can also communicate over apps and use maps they already rely on. We will build on this as the technology develops,” said Oleksandr Komarov, President of Kyivstar Group.
Kyivstar plans to support more apps over time as they are adapted for Starlink Mobile, including services that help businesses keep operating through disruption.
About Starlink Mobile
Starlink Mobile is the world’s only and largest constellation with 650 launched satellites in low-Earth orbit that delivers data, voice, video and messaging to devices in remote locations. Connecting millions of customers across six continents, Starlink satellites work with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. Acting like a cell phone tower in space with the most advanced phased array antennas in the world that connect seamlessly across the Starlink network over lasers to any point in the globe, it enables network integration similar to a standard roaming partner. Starlink is the world’s largest 4G coverage provider and partners with Mobile Network Operators all over the world. Learn more here and follow @Starlink on X.
About VEON
VEON is a digital operator that provides connectivity and digital services to over 150 million connectivity customers and more than 228 million digital users. Operating across five countries that are home to more than
About Kyivstar Group Ltd.
Kyivstar Group Ltd. (“Kyivstar”) is a Nasdaq-listed holding company that operates JSC Kyivstar, Ukraine’s leading digital operator and the first Ukrainian company to list on a U.S. stock exchange. Kyivstar’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. For more information, please visit https://investors.kyivstar.ua.
Forward-Looking Statements
This 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, including in relation to VEON’s cooperation with Starlink and the future availability of more satellite-ready apps.
VEON media contact
pr@veon.com
