Ukrainian operator Kyivstar is starting preparations for nationwide testing of SpaceX’s innovative Starlink Direct to Cell technology. The second stage will cover all territories of Ukraine, except for border zones, areas of combat operations, and temporarily occupied territories.
The technology aims to provide critical connectivity in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable. The testing will take place on frequencies that the company uses under a license issued by the national regulator.
«The technology will be especially useful during prolonged blackouts, in frontline and deoccupied territories, for humanitarian demining operators, SES services, in mountainous areas and other hard-to-reach areas without mobile coverage,» Kyivstar notes.
The company also plans to conduct Starlink Direct to Cell testing with subscribers and business customers.
«Testing Starlink Direct to Cell is an important step towards creating an additional communication system that complements our terrestrial mobile infrastructure. The technology will allow businesses to serve customers where communication is unavailable, and users to stay connected even in the most difficult moments», said Ilya Polshakov, Director of New Business Development at Kyivstar.
Kyivstar engineers are testing the technology in real-world conditions to assess its effectiveness in various scenarios — from emergencies to everyday use.
Starlink Direct to Cell technology allows ordinary 4G-enabled smartphones to connect directly to satellites, without using ground base stations. At the first stage of implementation, the function of sending SMS will be available — in the open air, at no additional cost to subscribers. In the future, voice calls and mobile Internet are planned to be launched, which will significantly expand the functionality of the service.
The first phase of free testing of Starlink Direct to Cell technology for Kyivstar subscribers began in September. Access to the technology should be available to all subscribers by the end of 2025.
Source: https://dev.ua/en/news/kyivstar-starlink-direct-to-cell-po-vsii-ukraini-1761906451
