Regulators clear Starlink-enabled texting trial in war-torn Ukraine

TAMPA, Fla. — Local regulators have approved Ukrainian telco Kyivstar’s plans to start testing space-enabled texting services this summer using SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, targeting areas crippled by Russian strikes and other terrestrial coverage gaps.

VEON, Kyivstar’s Dubai-headquartered parent company, announced approval for the field tests June 18, following successful lab tests in the United States that confirmed compatibility between its SIM cards and Starlink satellites.

Kyivstar is Ukraine’s largest mobile operator with over 23 million subscribers, according to the company, and aims to deploy the Starlink direct-to-cell (D2C) service commercially for unmodified handsets in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

“Kyivstar remains at the forefront of ensuring Ukraine’s connectivity, especially during challenging times,” said Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov in a statement.

“This partnership with Starlink underscores our determination to provide uninterrupted communication to our customers, regardless of circumstances.”

Starlink has already been providing a vital broadband lifeline in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, supporting both civilian and military connectivity.

Last week, SpaceX said it had completed the first-generation deployment of Starlink satellites with a D2C payload, although the service remains limited for now to messaging and emergency alerts where currently available in the United States and New Zealand.

VEON, formerly known as VimpelCom, was once one of Russia’s largest telecom operators after being founded there in 1992. 

However, the telco announced plans in 2022 to exit the Russian market shortly after the invasion, completing the sale of its business in the country the following year to focus on Ukraine and other high-growth markets.

VEON said Kyivstar has already allocated the cellular frequencies needed to launch the D2C service later this year, following its approval from the Ukrainian National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and the Provision of Postal Services, or NCEC.