Elon Musk’s Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, has signed its largest direct-to-cell partnership yet with Veon, a major telecoms group with operations across several countries. The deal gives Starlink access to over 150 million potential customers as both companies work to expand satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. Direct-to-cell technology enables mobile phones to connect directly to satellites in orbit, ensuring communication in areas with little or no terrestrial network coverage — a sector that has been attracting heavy investment to bridge global connectivity gaps.
Under the agreement, Veon will integrate Starlink’s satellite services into its networks, beginning with Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine. Kyivstar plans to roll out the service by the fourth quarter of 2025, while Beeline will follow in 2026. The announcement coincided with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Washington, highlighting the strategic importance of the deal. Veon also operates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan, further expanding Starlink’s potential footprint across Asia and Eastern Europe.
According to Kyivstar’s new business director, Ilya Polshakov, the collaboration represents the world’s largest partnership in terms of addressable customer base. He hinted that more agreements with Starlink are expected soon. However, Veon emphasized that the deal is nonexclusive, allowing it to continue negotiations with other satellite internet providers, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, and Eutelsat OneWeb. Veon’s CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, has indicated that while these other ventures may take shape in 2027 or 2028, Veon intends to start benefiting from Starlink’s services immediately.
Competition in the satellite connectivity market is heating up, with rivals like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon’s Project Kuiper gearing up for commercial launches in 2026. AST has already signed agreements with Verizon and Saudi carrier STC. Meanwhile, EchoStar announced a $2.6 billion expansion of its deal with SpaceX, granting Starlink broader U.S. airwave rights. Currently, Starlink boasts over 7 million global users and operates partnerships with telecom firms in 11 countries, including T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada. The company manages over 8,000 satellites, with 650 already dedicated to direct-to-cell services.