Elon Musk’s Starlink has signed its largest global direct-to-cell deal with telecom giant Veon, granting potential service access to over 150 million customers across emerging and frontier markets.
The announcement positions Starlink at the forefront of satellite-to-phone connectivity as competitors race to roll out similar offerings worldwide.
Veon will integrate Starlink’s direct-to-cell capabilities throughout its networks, beginning with Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine, followed by launches in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan. Initial service rollouts are set to begin in late 2025 and expand through 2026.
What does the Starlink and Veon deal mean for telecom users?
The agreement gives Veon the ability to offer satellite-powered phone connectivity directly to ordinary smartphones, removing the need for terrestrial cell towers in remote areas.
Customers in underserved regions could soon access reliable voice, text, and data even where standard mobile networks do not reach.
For Veon, the deal represents the largest-ever announced addressable customer base for satellite-based phone service, signaling a significant leap for users who have long faced coverage gaps.
For Starlink, leveraging Veon’s established telecom infrastructure accelerates user acquisition and solidifies its expansion into high-growth markets.
Industry experts view the partnership as a landmark move to bridge digital divides and allow rapid scale, particularly as other telecoms look to innovative solutions for connectivity.
Did you know?
Starlink operates over 8,000 satellites with 650 dedicated solely to direct-to-cell service, making its constellation the largest in commercial satellite communications.
How will direct-to-cell technology reshape connectivity?
Direct-to-cell technology beams phone signals from satellites in low Earth orbit directly to conventional smartphones, bypassing the need for specialized equipment or terrestrial cell sites.
This technology is especially transformative for communities in isolated areas, disaster zones, or regions where deploying infrastructure is economically unfeasible.
The Starlink-Veon deal intensifies the trend of integrating satellite and cellular networks, offering seamless handover between earthbound and space-based systems.
As sector investment surges, technology leaders anticipate that billions of people who are currently unconnected or poorly served will gain access to robust communications.
Which countries and telecoms are first to benefit?
The first rollouts of Starlink's direct-to-cell service will occur in Kazakhstan through Veon’s Beeline operator and in Ukraine via Kyivstar. Kyivstar plans to introduce satellite connectivity in the final quarter of 2025, with Beeline following in 2026.
Subsequently, launches are expected in other Veon markets, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan.
This focus on countries with large rural populations and coverage challenges aligns with broader industry efforts to target frontier markets.
By partnering locally, Starlink’s technology may support both civilian needs and government-backed digital inclusion policies, such as Kazakhstan’s recent digital ministry initiatives.
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Who are the competitors in satellite-to-phone technology?
While Starlink’s deal with Veon is notable for its scale, competition is heating up as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, and Eutelsat OneWeb pursue similar partnerships.
Veon’s CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, has signaled ongoing talks with these rivals, emphasizing the need for immediate solutions rather than delayed industry promises.
AST SpaceMobile already has deals in place with telecoms such as Verizon and Saudi telecommunications carrier STC, while Amazon anticipates initial launches of its Kuiper satellites in 2026.
EchoStar also recently expanded its agreement with SpaceX, selling $2.6 billion in spectrum licenses to support Starlink’s next phase in the US market.
What could the future hold for global mobile satellite services?
Satellite-to-cell technology may transform how billions of people connect, eliminating longstanding barriers created by geography, infrastructure limitations, or conflict.
As satellite networks grow and technical standards mature, consumers could expect smoother roaming, more resilient services, and affordable plans for universal coverage.
The Starlink-Veon partnership is nonexclusive, meaning Veon can add additional satellite providers to its portfolio.
This could stimulate faster innovation and competitive pricing across the sector, even as regulatory, technical, and logistical challenges persist.
By late 2025 and beyond, the mobile landscape will likely see a growing blend of space and terrestrial systems, with users benefiting from unprecedented access.
As new constellations come online and governments welcome satellite solutions, the promise of true, borderless mobility draws ever nearer.
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