Since its launch on November 24, 2025, Kyivstar’s Starlink Direct to Cell service has registered over 3.0 million unique users, representing more than 10% of the operator’s 30 million–strong mobile subscriber base. In just seven weeks, the platform has delivered over 1.2 million SMS messages, demonstrating both strong consumer demand and the robustness of the underlying satellite network. Availability has been extended free of charge to all 4G smartphone users on the Kyivstar network—approximately 15.5 million devices—under existing tariff plans and without any device modifications.

Usage data indicates the service is especially vital in Ukraine’s southern and eastern provinces, where terrestrial infrastructure faces ongoing challenges. The five cities with the highest uptake are Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi and Dnipro, collectively accounting for nearly 60% of all satellite‐enabled SMS traffic. Local authorities and emergency services in these regions have reported that consistent messaging capability has supported civilian coordination and humanitarian response efforts during intermittent network outages.

Beyond Ukraine, VEON’s Beeline Kazakhstan has successfully completed the first Starlink Direct to Cell test via a WhatsApp call, positioning the operator to launch satellite SMS services in 2026 pending regulatory approval. Kyivstar and VEON remain committed to further innovation: data services over the Direct to Cell platform are slated for rollout later this year, and Kyivstar plans to invest a total of USD 1 billion in Ukrainian infrastructure and technology projects between 2023 and 2027, reinforcing both terrestrial and satellite connectivity.