“Kyivstar” has begun a large-scale test of Starlink Direct to Cell technology, a satellite communication that provides access to the network even in the most remote areas where there is no mobile coverage. The testing will cover the entire territory of Ukraine, with the exception of border zones, temporarily occupied regions and areas where hostilities are ongoing.
To use the new service, a regular 4G smartphone is enough – without additional settings, equipment or payment. According to the plan, by the end of 2025, the technology will become available to all Kyivstar subscribers, and now the company’s engineers are testing it in real conditions – both in emergency situations and in everyday use.
At the initial stage, users will be able to send SMS messages from areas without coverage for free, and later – make phone calls and use mobile Internet. This technology is of particular importance during large-scale blackouts, in de-occupied territories, in mountainous areas and for the needs of emergency services, where access to communication is critical.
The first tests of Starlink Direct to Cell Kyivstar held in August: then the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and the company’s CEO Oleksandr Komarov successfully exchanged text messages via a satellite communication channel.
Let us recall that on August 15, “Kyivstar” went public on the American Nasdaq stock exchange. After that, the company’s capitalization exceeded 3 billion US dollars, which was an important event for the Ukrainian telecommunications market.
