Starlink Teams with Veon to Enhance Global Satellite Phone Services

In a groundbreaking move, Elon Musk's Starlink, the satellite segment of SpaceX, has established a significant partnership with the global telecom giant Veon. This collaboration provides a pathway to connect over 150 million potential users, marking a substantial leap in the mission to facilitate direct smartphone access to satellite networks.

This direct-to-cell technology empowers standard mobile devices to utilize satellite networks in orbit, offering vital coverage in areas that lack traditional cellular infrastructure. The deal aligns with a growing push to improve connectivity in isolated regions around the globe.

As part of the agreement, Veon will incorporate Starlink's offerings into its existing networks, beginning with Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine. The launch for Kyivstar is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2025, with Beeline expected to follow suit in 2026. Veon also serves markets in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan, potentially expanding Starlink's reach to millions of additional users.

“This represents our largest partnership based on the potential customer base globally,” stated Ilya Polshakov, Kyivstar’s director of new business initiatives driving Veon’s satellite projects. He also indicated that further satellite connectivity collaborations are on the horizon.

Although the agreement is nonexclusive, Veon has shown interest in partnerships with other satellite firms like Amazon's Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, and Eutelsat OneWeb, with collaborations projected to emerge in 2027 and thereafter.

As competition intensifies in this arena, AST SpaceMobile has already secured deals with Verizon and Saudi Arabia's STC, while Amazon's Project Kuiper is gearing up for its first commercial launches set for 2026.

At present, Starlink serves more than 7 million users globally and has forged partnerships in 11 countries, including T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada. With a constellation of over 8,000 satellites, approximately 650 of which are dedicated to direct-to-cell services, Starlink is solidifying its foothold in the burgeoning satellite-to-smartphone market.