Ukraine first country in Europe to get Starlink satellite phone service
Summary
Ukrainian carrier Kyivstar has begun trials of Starlink’s Direct to Cell service, making Ukraine the first country in Europe to offer the capability. The trial is available to all Kyivstar subscribers at no extra cost and initially supports SMS messaging. Kyivstar says Android users can access the service now, with Apple handset support to follow. The operator intends to add ‘light data with voice and video capabilities’ later. The service is aimed at maintaining connectivity where terrestrial networks fail — near the front line, in damaged regions, remote villages, and for rescue and humanitarian teams.
Key Points
- Kyivstar is trialling Starlink Direct to Cell for all subscribers in Ukraine, initially for SMS only.
- Service works with existing smartphones; currently Android-only, with Apple support promised later.
- Kyivstar will provide the service at no additional charge during the trial period.
- Direct to Cell boosts resilience where ground networks are down — vital for frontline areas, rescuers and humanitarian missions.
- Other European operators are rolling out similar offerings: VMO2 (O2 Satellite), Orange (Message Satellite via Skylo) and Vodafone (AST SpaceMobile trials).
- Kyivstar already uses batteries and generators for up to ten hours’ coverage; satellite support extends availability beyond grid outages.
Content summary
Kyivstar’s trial plugs Starlink’s satellite-to-phone capability into its network so subscribers can send and receive SMS when terrestrial mobile coverage is unavailable. The initial rollout is SMS-only and limited to Android phones, but Kyivstar plans to expand functions to include light data, voice and video. The telco says access will be free for its customers during the trial and highlights the service’s value for areas affected by conflict and damaged infrastructure.
The article also notes similar moves across Europe: Virgin Media O2 plans an ‘O2 Satellite’ service in H1 2026; Orange will offer satellite messaging via Skylo (initially on Google Pixel 9/10) from December with a small monthly fee after a free trial; and Vodafone continues work with AST SpaceMobile after promising satellite-enabled mobile video calls in tests.
Context and relevance
This rollout is a milestone for consumer-grade satellite connectivity in Europe, especially significant in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict where maintaining comms is critical. Direct-to-cell services represent a shift from specialised satellite handsets to seamless fallback for standard smartphones, improving resilience for civilians, first responders and aid organisations. The move also sits amid a broader industry push — multiple operators are launching or testing competing satellite fallback offerings, signalling a rapid expansion of satellite-telecom integration across Europe.
Why should I read this?
Short and sharp: if you care about communications resilience, emergency response or how satellite tech is finally working with everyday phones, this matters. Ukraine’s trial is a live case showing what happens when satellite backup becomes mainstream — and other European carriers are already chasing the same play. Saves you the bother of hunting through multiple press releases.