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Ukraine Becomes First in Europe to Launch SpaceX Mobile Internet via Starlink
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine is set to become the first European country to provide mobile satellite services via Starlink , according to Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov.
Messaging services are expected to launch by the end of 2025, with full-scale mobile satellite broadband and voice connectivity projected for mid-2026.
The announcement follows a 2024 agreement between Kyivstar and Elon Musk’s SpaceX to enable direct satellite-to-phone communication in Ukraine. Komarov confirmed in an interview with Reuters that field testing has already begun.
The service will function through satellites equipped with modems acting as mobile towers, relaying signals directly from orbit to smartphones.
“The first phase is messaging via OTT technologies—WhatsApp, Signal, and similar platforms—which will be introduced later this year,” Komarov said. “By the second quarter of 2026, we expect to provide full mobile satellite broadband and voice access.”
The development positions Ukraine at the forefront of satellite connectivity in Europe. SpaceX currently operates over 7,000 Starlink satellites—significantly more than competitors such as OneWeb, which has under 700.
The initiative is being presented in the context of the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in Rome. Komarov, attending the event alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noted his aim to support government efforts and establish new business partnerships, including with Italian firms interested in Ukraine’s market.
In addition to the rollout of Starlink mobile services, Komarov addressed the resilience of Ukraine’s telecom infrastructure amid continued Russian attacks.
He stated that network systems are now capable of operating for up to 10 hours during nationwide blackouts. Last year, missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s power grid caused widespread outages, disrupting nearly half of the country’s generation capacity.
Starlink technology has been in use by Ukraine’s Defense Forces since the early days of the full-scale invasion. Following a Russian cyberattack on British provider Viasat on the eve of the invasion, SpaceX delivered its first batch of Starlink terminals to Ukraine on February 28, 2022.
Earlier, in December 2024, Kyivstar signed an agreement with Starlink to introduce Direct-to-Cell satellite communication in Ukraine. The rollout is expected to begin with SMS and OTT messaging services by late 2025, followed by voice and data access. The technology will enable standard 4G smartphones to connect via satellite, ensuring coverage in remote areas and during wartime disruptions.
