Overview
- Beeline Kazakhstan agreed to integrate Starlink’s service and signed a memorandum of understanding with the national digital ministry during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Washington.
- Kyivstar targets a fourth-quarter 2025 launch, while Beeline plans to begin with satellite messaging in 2026 and add data services afterward.
- Veon’s agreement is a global, non-exclusive framework that allows the company to continue talks with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile and Eutelsat OneWeb.
- Reuters reports this as Starlink’s largest direct-to-cell deal to date, opening access to more than 150 million potential customers across Veon’s markets.
- Direct-to-cell connects standard smartphones directly to low-Earth orbit satellites to cover areas without terrestrial service, with commercial rollouts subject to testing and integration.