Starlink Direct to Cell is Being Launched for Connectivity in Ukraine

• The beta testing of Starlink Direct to Cell has been launched in Ukraine.
• Kyivstar will become the first operator to integrate this technology.
• It is planned to provide free access to the service during the war.

This was reported by RBC Ukraine, Interfax Ukraine.

Ukraine has started beta testing the Starlink Direct to Cell technology, which allows Ukrainians to stay connected even in hard-to-reach places. This was announced by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

Fedorov noted that this technology allows users who have 4G smartphones with SIM or eSIM cards to send SMS without having mobile network coverage. The launch of the technology is planned for the fall of this year.

The Starlink Direct to Cell technology allows users to connect to Starlink satellites without the need for modification of satellite equipment. The satellites are equipped with special modems that function as standard towers in space, ensuring the exchange of text messages, and in the future — voice calls and data transmission.

On September 12, 2025, Fedorov and the General Director of Kyivstar Oleksandr Komarov were presented with the first messages via this technology, demonstrating it in a test mode near Zhytomyr. According to Komarov, it is planned that the exchange of messages for Kyivstar subscribers will start in the fall of 2025.

Kyivstar has become the first operator in Ukraine to integrate satellite connectivity into its telecommunications infrastructure. It is expected that the technology will allow users to remain connected under the most challenging conditions, including during the absence of a terrestrial signal.

In the framework of the testing, the download speed of the data was 3 Mbit/s, and the upload speed was 0.5 Mbit/s. The company continues to conduct field tests for further enhancement of the technology.

Tags: Ukraine/Technology/Space