Ukraine’s leading mobile operator, Kyivstar, is set to roll out Starlink mobile satellite internet services in mid-2026, making the country the first in Europe to offer such connectivity. The news was confirmed by Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov in an interview with Reuters.
The project’s initial phase, planned for the end of 2024, will enable over-the-top (OTT) messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal through Starlink’s infrastructure. Full mobile broadband and voice services via satellite are expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026.
Starlink, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, uses a commercial satellite constellation to beam internet signals directly to smartphones via specialized modems that act like satellite-based cell towers. This technology plays a vital role in maintaining reliable communication infrastructure in war-affected regions like Ukraine.
Kyivstar is also moving forward with plans for a U.S. stock market listing on NASDAQ. Komarov stated that the listing is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, marking the first time a Ukrainian company will go public on a U.S. exchange during wartime.
Despite recent Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Kyivstar has managed to maintain fixed and mobile services for up to 10 hours during blackouts, demonstrating improved resilience compared to 2022.
This development not only strengthens Ukraine's telecommunications sector but also signals the country’s continued progress and innovation, even amid ongoing conflict.
