Aug 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine's largest mobile operator

Kyivstar has successfully conducted the first field test of Elon

Musk's Starlink direct-to-cell satellite technology in

Eastern Europe, the company said on Tuesday.

The pilot test took place in the Zhytomyr region using

Starlink's direct-to-cell technology, Kyivstar said, with its

CEO Oleksandr Komarov and Ukraine's digital transformation

minister Mykhailo Fedorov exchanging messages via regular

smartphones.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Direct-to-cell satellite technology aims to provide reliable

connectivity when terrestrial networks are unavailable, a

critical asset for war-torn Ukraine where Russian attacks on

infrastructure regularly disrupt communications.

Satellites used for this service are equipped with advanced

cellular modems that function like cell towers in space, beaming

signals directly to smartphones on the ground.

CONTEXT

Telecom providers around the world are turning to satellite

technology in an effort to erase dead zones, particularly in

remote areas where terrestrial networks are either too expensive

to deploy or face significant geographical challenges.

Space X-owned Starlink has signed deals with telcos in 10

countries for a direct-to-cell service, with Kyivstar set to

become the first operator in Europe to roll it out.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kyivstar and Starlink plan to commercially launch

direct-to-cell connectivity in the fourth quarter of 2025,

starting with messaging services.

Mobile satellite broadband data is planned to be made available

to a wider audience at the beginning of 2026, Komarov told

Reuters in July.

VEON, which owns Kyivstar, is also in talks with other

providers, including Amazon's Project Kuiper, to expand its

satellite services for mobile devices beyond Ukraine.