Ukraine to launch Starlink mobile internet in 2026, becoming Europe's first

Ukraine is set to become the first European nation to introduce Starlink’s mobile services, with leading telecom provider Kyivstar preparing to roll out messaging capabilities by the end of this year and full mobile satellite broadband by mid-2026, according to the company’s CEO, Oleksandr Komarov.

In an interview with Reuters in Rome, Komarov revealed that field testing is already underway as part of an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, signed for implementation by the end of 2024. The initiative will allow Elon Musk’s satellite internet service to deliver direct-to-cell connectivity in Ukraine.

The technology, which enables smartphones to connect directly to satellites equipped with modems functioning as orbiting cell towers, will initially support messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal.

“The first phase is over-the-top (OTT) messaging... this will be operational by the end of this year,” Komarov said.

“By early 2026—let’s say Q2 2026 to be cautious—we aim to offer mobile satellite broadband and voice services,.” he added.

SpaceX has not commented publicly on the development. In the U.S. T-Mobile announced plans in June to begin offering data services via its satellite-to-cell network, powered by Starlink, starting in October.

Komarov made his remarks ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, a major international event focused on Ukraine’s reconstruction following more than three years of war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also participating in the summit.

Kyivstar, which is owned by global telecom group VEON, is additionally preparing for a U.S. stock market debut.

Komarov said the company is working towards a NASDAQ listing, with plans to finalise the move in the third quarter of 2025.

“I believe it will be a historic step—the first direct listing of a Ukrainian company on a U.S. exchange during wartime,” he noted.

Despite intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks, Komarov said the country’s telecommunications systems remain resilient. He pointed out that although last year’s strikes on power grids triggered widespread blackouts, the network’s capacity has improved significantly.

“We’re much more resilient now than we were in 2022,” he said. “Currently, we can keep our fixed and mobile services running for up to 10 hours during power outages—even nationwide blackouts.”

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