Ukraine will become the first European country to receive mobile services from Starlink. The messaging service is expected to launch by the end of 2025, while mobile satellite broadband access is scheduled for mid-2026, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Reuters.
This information was confirmed by the CEO of Kyivstar, Oleksandr Komarov. According to him, field testing has already begun as part of an agreement signed at the end of 2024 with Space, a company owned by Elon Musk. This partnership will enable direct satellite-to-mobile communication services to begin operating in Ukraine.
The connection will be made via satellites equipped with special modems. These devices will act as cell towers, transmitting phone signals directly from space to smartphones.
Speaking to Reuters in Rome, Komarov explained that the first phase will involve messaging via OTT (over-the-top) technologies — such as WhatsApp, Signal, and other messaging systems. This service is expected to go live by the end of this year.
According to the Kyivstar CEO, full-scale mobile satellite broadband and voice transmission services are planned for early 2026, likely in the second quarter.
Earlier we wrote that astronomers report major interference from Starlink satellites.