Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, together with Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov, has conducted field tests of the new satellite communication technology Starlink Direct to Cell, which enables connectivity even in areas without any mobile network coverage, reports Baltimore Chronicle citing the official statement from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. During testing in the Zhytomyr region, the first SMS messages were successfully exchanged via satellite using ordinary smartphones.
The Direct to Cell service will allow Ukrainians to send and receive text messages under any conditions — in the mountains, during bad weather, power outages, or network disruptions. The only requirement is a clear line of sight to the sky. No additional equipment is needed — a 4G smartphone with a SIM or eSIM card is enough.
Ukraine is among the first countries in the world to implement this technology, along with the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand. According to Mykhailo Fedorov, even during wartime, developing innovative communication infrastructure remains a government priority.
Oleksandr Komarov noted that Direct to Cell is a strategic solution for ensuring uninterrupted communication in critical situations. More than 16 million Kyivstar subscribers already own devices compatible with this service. The test zone in the Zhytomyr region covers about 200 km², and similar zones are planned across the country.
Over the past year, the number of SpaceX satellites equipped with Direct to Cell capability has grown from around 60 to 600, and this number continues to increase. Kyivstar is also in talks with other providers, including Amazon Project Kuiper, to expand coverage beyond Ukraine.
The official launch of the technology in Ukraine is planned for autumn 2025 — in the first stage, SMS services will be available, and by mid-2026, mobile internet and voice calls will be supported. This will make Ukraine the first country in Europe with such a service.
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