Starlink’s next-generation satellite-to-mobile service has officially arrived in Europe — and Ukraine is the first to get it. Kyivstar, the country’s largest mobile operator and part of VEON Group, announced the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell technology for its customers on Monday, marking a major milestone for both companies as Ukraine continues strengthening its digital resilience during wartime.
The rollout follows Kyivstar’s successful first-ever Direct to Cell test in Eastern Europe back in August, when the carrier said it planned to go live in Q4. Starlink Direct to Cell brings satellite connectivity to standard 4G smartphones across Ukraine, starting with SMS support and later expanding to voice and data in 2026.
Kyivstar’s service mirrors similar offerings already live through T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada. T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service launched commercially in July and added satellite data last month, while Rogers began piloting Starlink-powered texting over the summer.
“In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe. To ensure this, we have equipped our network with batteries and generators, providing up to 10 hours of continuous coverage when the grid power is not available due extended blackouts. With the introduction of cutting-edge Direct to Cell technology, we are enhancing this resilience significantly, starting with a vital functionality that is critical for our people. We are committed to carrying our partnership with Starlink further, ensuring the resilience of connectivity across Ukraine, the first country in Europe to introduce Starlink Direct to Cell,” said Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov.
“Ukraine ranks first among European countries launching Direct to Cell technology. This is an important step in developing infrastructure that will ensure connectivity even in areas without traditional networks. Despite all the challenges of wartime — constant Russian attacks on infrastructure, blackouts, and network damage — we continue to advance innovative solutions, because reliable connectivity under any circumstances remains one of our key priorities,” added Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation.
Starlink currently has around 650 Direct to Cell satellites in orbit — the entirety of its first-generation constellation — with SpaceX seeking FCC approval to launch up to 15,000 next-gen satellites to expand coverage and capacity further. Beyond Ukraine, Starlink is also set to underpin Virgin Media O2’s upcoming satellite mobile service in the U.K. in early 2026, and SpaceX plans to begin testing satellite-based mobile connectivity on its own recently acquired wireless spectrum next year.
With Kyivstar’s Direct to Cell launch, Europe now has its first taste of Starlink’s cellular ambitions — and SpaceX’s rapid momentum suggests this is only the beginning.
