Ukraine’s Largest Mobile Operator Launches Europe’s First Satellite SMS Service With Starlink
Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service launches in war-torn Ukraine.
Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator with 22.5 million subscribers, activated Europe’s first direct-to-cell satellite service on Monday through a partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink. The breakthrough technology enables standard 4G smartphones to send and receive SMS messages via orbiting satellites, bypassing damaged terrestrial towers and prolonged power outages caused by Russian attacks.
Initially limited to text messaging, the service will expand to voice calls and mobile data in 2026, providing a critical lifeline in areas where conventional networks remain destroyed or under repair. Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov declared that staying connected now directly translates to staying safe, particularly in recently liberated territories and during emergency rescue operations where traditional coverage is unreliable or nonexistent.
The launch arrives as Ukraine endures its fourth winter of war, with Russian missile and drone strikes systematically targeting the national power grid and leaving millions without electricity for days at a time. Kyivstar has already equipped thousands of base stations with backup batteries and generators capable of sustaining service for over ten hours during blackouts, and the Starlink integration adds an extra layer of resilience by eliminating dependence on ground infrastructure entirely.
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Direct-to-cell technology represents a major advancement over traditional satellite phones, requiring no specialized hardware or external antennas. Users simply point their regular smartphones toward the open sky to establish a connection with low-Earth-orbit satellites that relay signals back to terrestrial gateways, maintaining communication even in the most remote or contested regions.
With over 50,000 Starlink terminals already supporting Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations, the new consumer service marks another milestone in the country’s digital defiance. As Russian assaults on energy infrastructure intensify ahead of winter, this satellite lifeline ensures millions of civilians can call for help, coordinate evacuations, and stay informed regardless of the chaos on the ground.
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