Kyivstar has announced plans to broaden the testing of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite service across most regions of Ukraine, excluding border zones, temporarily occupied territories, and areas experiencing active hostilities amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
This move signifies a second phase in Kyivstar’s evaluation of Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based D2C technology, which initially began in July. The company has secured regulatory approval from Ukraine’s National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum, and Postal Services (NCEC) to conduct tests on the same frequency bands under its existing license.
Kyivstar views D2C, also known as direct-to-device (D2D) technology, as a vital tool for maintaining reliable communication channels and supporting sustainable business operations in challenging conditions, ranging from remote mountainous regions to conflict-affected zones. The company highlighted that this technology could prove especially beneficial during prolonged blackouts and in frontline or recently liberated territories. It is also anticipated to aid humanitarian de-mining efforts and support emergency services during crises.
The company’s engineers will conduct real-world tests to evaluate how effectively the technology performs in various scenarios, including emergencies and everyday use.
“Starlink Direct to Cell testing is an important step towards creating an additional communication system that complements our ground-based mobile infrastructure. The technology will allow businesses to serve customers where communication is limited, and users to stay connected even in the most difficult moments,” said Ilya Polskakov, Kyivstar’s director of new business development.
Kyivstar assured that all safety standards will be observed throughout the testing process and that the trials will not compromise the quality of its existing terrestrial mobile services. The Ukrainian regulator, NPEC, plans to monitor the testing closely to ensure that D2C operations do not interfere with current networks or violate technical and regulatory standards.
The company intends to roll out D2C services enabling messaging through platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, and Signal to all subscribers by the end of this year, with full voice and data services expected to be available by the second quarter of 2026. Additionally, Kyivstar aims to leverage Starlink’s D2C capabilities to bolster Ukraine’s financial services and digital payments infrastructure through a partnership with Mastercard, announced last month.
