Kyivstar, the leading Ukrainian mobile operator, has received permission from the National Commission for Regulation of Electronic Communications to test Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite technology developed by SpaceX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These tests will assess the ability to receive SMS messages directly on 4G smartphones from orbit without the need for additional equipment or installing new applications. This requires the subscriber to be in an open space with direct visibility of the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyivstar has become the first operator in Europe to introduce satellite communication technology for smartphones. The primary goal of the innovation is to provide mobile communications in remote and hard-to-reach areas where traditional coverage is unavailable, particularly in mountainous and rural regions. This is especially important in wartime conditions when infrastructure is often damaged and power supply can be intermittent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the initial stage, Direct Cell technology will allow users to send and receive SMS by connecting to a 4G interface without any modifications. Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov emphasized the importance of this project: “We strive to take into account all technical nuances during testing to make this service as convenient as possible for customers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first beta tests are scheduled for the summer of 2025 in limited regions, and broader access for subscribers is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyivstar also announced the successful registration of a SIM card in the Starlink satellite network at the SpaceX laboratory, confirming its readiness for testing in Ukraine. It is worth noting that at the end of 2024, the company became the first in Europe to sign an agreement with Starlink to implement Direct-to-Cell technology on Ukrainian territory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kyivstar, the leading Ukrainian mobile operator, has received permission from the National Commission for Regulation of Electronic Communications to test Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite technology developed by SpaceX. These tests will assess the ability to receive SMS messages directly on 4G smartphones from orbit without the need for additional equipment or installing new applications. This requires […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":12924,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n