Elon Musk's Starlink to beam 'uninterrupted' cell service to Ukraine from space
Business InsiderJan 01
Ukraine: Starlink, Kyivstar Partner for Satellite Cell Service
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Image copyright: Nikolas Kokovlis/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
Ukraine's largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, has signed an agreement with Elon Musk's SpaceX unit Starlink to provide satellite-powered cellular service, making Ukraine one of the first countries to implement Starlink's direct-to-cell technology.
The service will enable Kyivstar's over 23M mobile subscribers to maintain communication even when terrestrial networks are compromised, with text messaging capabilities scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025.
With Russia regularly targeting Ukrainian infrastructure since its February 2022 invasion, this partnership aims to protect telecommunications infrastructure from such attacks.
The Spin
Narrative A
This collaboration represents a significant technological advancement for Ukraine's defense capabilities, furthering Kyivstar's goal of providing uninterrupted communication during blackouts — especially in the face of Russian attacks. Ukraine's military operations will enjoy the benefit of reliable internet connectivity for drone operations and communications.
Narrative B
Although the benefits of this partnership to Ukraine are obvious, there's no telling how Musk's role in the upcoming Trump administration and his relationship with Russia will ultimately impact the conflict. US legislators have raised concerns over Musk's communications with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin and it has been suspected that Russia has also had access to Starlink technology.
