Page 86 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

VEON and Starlink to Launch Direct-to-Cell Satellite Connectivity in Ukraine

latest Starlink satellite models, of which SpaceX has launched over
100 in the past year. For Ukraine, this satellite connectivity could
provide customers with an invaluable emergency resource, allow-
ing them to stay connected even when terrestrial infrastructure has
been destroyed by Russian military action. “Kyivstar has done a
tremendous job in investing in Ukraine’s 4G connectivity, expand-
ing coverage to remote areas and increasing the energy resilience
of its network. This announcement helps us take our commitment
Telecoms group VEON has announced a new partnership with Star- to Ukraine’s connectivity to the next level, exponentially amplify-
link, a division of SpaceX, to bring direct-to-cell satellite connectivity ing the resilience of our services with satellite connectivity,” said
to Ukraine. The deal will see Kyivstar, VEON’s Ukrainian subsidiary, Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group in a press release. Kyivstar
offer these satellite-based connectivity services to its customers CEO Oleksandr Komarov emphasised the importance of the col-
across the country. The deal will see Ukraine become one of the laboration in ensuring continuous communication for customers in
first countries to benefit from Starlink’s direct-to-cell services, with Ukraine, especially during ongoing challenges. “Kyivstar has been
T-Mobile in the US the only other operator that has agreed to roll the backbone of Ukraine’s resilience throughout the war, and we
out the technology so far. Service activation in Ukraine is expect- are committed to leaving no stone unturned to keep Ukraine con-
ed in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will include SMS and over-the- nected. Our collaboration with Starlink is a game-changer in our
top (OTT) messaging functionality. Service offerings will expand to journey towards achieving our ‘LTE everywhere’ ambition,” he said.
include voice and data services in future phases. Global satellite VEON, which has invested over $10 billion in Ukraine since 2013,
constellation Starlink is currently operational in roughly 118coun- has committed an additional $1 billion for the country’s recovery
tries worldwide, where it aims to serve customers in regions where and reconstruction between 2023 and 2027. The company was
traditional internet infrastructure is limited. Its technology has al- named the top international investor in Ukraine for 2022 and 2023
ready played a significant role in connecting areas affected by nat- by Forbes Ukraine and NV Ukraine. “Working with Starlink allows
ural disasters, conflict, and other infrastructure challenges. All of us to extend connectivity to underserved areas, supporting our
these deployments, however, currently require the use of a Starlink broader mission to provide reliable services in emerging markets,”
terminal dish. Direct-to-cell capabilities, on the other hand, will al- said Augie K Fabela II, Chairman and Founder of VEON. At the
low customers to use the satellite connectivity without any deploy- World Communication Awards held last month in London, VEON
ing any additional equipment. These capabilities are limited the Kyivstar won the Crisis Response Award.

SpaceX, Amazon in Talks with British Airways Owner on Wi-Fi Deal

British Airways owner IAG SA is in discussions with Elon Musk's
Starlink to outfit its jet fleet with Wi-Fi service, reflecting the
increasing inroads SpaceX's satellite internet business is making
with major global carriers, reported Bloomberg News. IAG, also
owning Spain's Iberia and Ireland's Aer Lingus, hasn't made a final
decision and is weighing options with multiple providers including
Amazon.com Inc.'s nascent Project Kuiper, said the report. "The
talks underscore a looming shakeup in the aviation services market
fueled by the deployment of satellite constellations orbiting closer
to Earth," noted the report. "Airlines are inking deals with Starlink
and others to replace costly, limited in-flight Wi-Fi. Expanded
satellite bandwidth has helped to produce web-surfing experiences
closer to what consumers expect on the ground." Starlink, SpaceX's
internet-from-space initiative, serves some 4 million customers
through a network of thousands of satellites in a relatively low orbit
around Earth. Together, the spacecraft work in tandem to beam
broadband internet coverage to the ground below.

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