Kyivstar has received permission for a large-scale test of Starlink Direct to Cell technology, a satellite communication that will work in remote areas without mobile coverage. The test will cover the entire territory of Ukraine, except for border zones, temporarily occupied territories and areas of hostilities.
To use the service, a regular 4G smartphone is enough, without additional settings or payments. At the end of 2025, the technology will become available to all Kyivstar subscribers, and now engineers are testing it in real conditions – from emergency situations to everyday use.
Initially, users will be able to send SMS for free in areas without coverage, and later – to make calls and use mobile Internet. This is especially important during blackouts, in de-occupied territories, in mountainous areas, and for emergency services.
Kyivstar conducted its first tests in August . Then, the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov exchanged text messages via satellite.
